Complete question:
A 50,000 kg train car moving at 2 m/s collides and connects to another identical car initially at rest. Find the velocity of the two cars immediately after collision.
Answer:
The final velocity of the two cars after collision is 1 m/s.
Explanation:
Given;
mass of first car, m₁ = 50,000 kg
mass of the second car, m₂ = 50,000 kg (identical to first car)
initial velocity of the first car, u₁ = 2 m/s
initial velocity of the second car, u₂ = 0
let the final velocity of the two cars after collision = v
The final velocity of the two cars can be calculated from law of conservation of linear momentum for inelastic collision.
m₁u₁ + m₂u₂ = v(m₁ + m₂)
50,000 x 2 + 50,000 x 0 = v(50,000 + 50,000)
100,000 = 100,000v
v = 100,000 / 100,000
v = 1 m/s
Therefore, the final velocity of the two cars after collision is 1 m/s.
