Answer:
The answer is 20.0 m/s. Let's explain why.
Explanation:
In the crash problems, the key is that the total moment is the same before and after the crash
[tex]P_{beforecrash}=P_{aftercrash}[/tex]
and P is defined as [tex]P=mV[/tex]
Let's say the car has [tex]m_{1}[/tex] mass and [tex]V_{1}[/tex] speed and the small truck has [tex]m_{2}[/tex] mass and [tex]V_{2}[/tex] speed.
Total moment before the crash would be:
[tex]m_{1} V_{1} +m_{2} V_{2}[/tex]
And after the crash the it equals [tex](m_{1} +m_{2})V_{combined}[/tex]
As we said before total moment is equal before and after the crash.
[tex]m_{1} V_{1} +m_{2} V_{2}[/tex]=[tex](m_{1} +m_{2})V_{combined}[/tex]
[tex]1500.20+2000.20=(1500+2000)V_{combined}[/tex]
Therefore
[tex]V_{combined}=20[/tex]
