Question

a) A 1000-kg car traveling west at 20m/s collides with a 2000-kg truck traveling south at 10m/s. The two vehicles move away from the impact point as one. The insurance adjustor asks you to find the velocity of the wreckage just after impact. What will be your assessment

Answer 1

From conservation of momentum

Initial momentum = final momentum

m

u

+M

U

=(m+M)

V

1000×15

i

^

+2000×10

j

^

=(1000+2000)

V

V

=5

i

^

+10

j

^

Final velocity when they stick together is 5

i

^

+10

j

^