Answer:
16 m/s north
Explanation:
According to the law of momentum conservation, total momentum before and after must be the same
Total momentum after the collision as both cars stick together as 1 unit traveling at speed of 5.48m/s to the north
(m + M)V = (1530 + 2560)*5.48 = 22413 kgm/s
So the total momentum before must also be 22413, which is made of
[tex]mv_1 + Mv_2 = 22413[/tex]
[tex]1530*(-12.1) + 2560v_2 = 22413[/tex]
[tex]2560v_2 = 22413 + 18513 = 40926[/tex]
[tex]v_2 = 40926 / 2560 \approx 16 m/s[/tex] north