what is the size and direction of the final velocity of the two cars when a 0.4 kg toy train car moving forward at 3 m/s collides with and sticks to a 0.8 kg toy car that is traveling the opposite direction of -2 m/s
original momentum in x direction
= .4*3 - .8*2
= 1.2 -1.6
= -0.4 kg m/s
so moves to left if first car was moving right
final momentum in x direction = (1.2)v
final momentum = original momentum (first law)
1.2 v = -0.4
v = - 1/3 meter/second
Thank I needed help thank you.
To find the final velocity of the two cars after the collision, we can use the principle of conservation of linear momentum. According to this principle, the total momentum before the collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision.
The momentum (p) of an object is defined as the product of its mass (m) and velocity (v). In equation form, momentum is expressed as p = m * v.
Let's assign variables to represent the mass and velocity of each car before and after the collision:
m1 = mass of the toy train car = 0.4 kg
v1 = velocity of the toy train car = 3 m/s (moving forward)
m2 = mass of the toy car = 0.8 kg
v2 = velocity of the toy car = -2 m/s (moving backward)
After the collision, the two cars stick together, so they have the same final velocity.
Let's assume the final velocity of the combined car is represented by vf.
Using the conservation of momentum, we can write the equation as:
(m1 * v1) + (m2 * v2) = (m1 + m2) * vf
Substituting the given values:
(0.4 kg * 3 m/s) + (0.8 kg * -2 m/s) = (0.4 kg + 0.8 kg) * vf
1.2 kg * m/s + (-1.6 kg * m/s) = 1.2 kg * vf
0.4 kg * vf = 1.2 kg * m/s - 1.6 kg * m/s
0.4 kg * vf = -0.4 kg * m/s
vf = (-0.4 kg * m/s) / 0.4 kg
vf = -1 m/s
Therefore, the final velocity of the combined car after the collision is -1 m/s, meaning it is moving backward.