PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Mechanics and materials · Mechanics and materials
Problem
Two automobiles collide head-on on a straight, level road that defines the x-axis.
• Car X: mass 1.1×103kg, traveling east at 18ms−1
• Car Y: mass 9.0×102kg, traveling west at 22ms−1
After impact the wreckage locks together and skids as a single unit.
Assume the road is horizontal and external horizontal forces during the very short collision are negligible.
(a) Taking east as the +x-direction, calculate the total linear momentum of the system just before impact. Express your answer with the proper sign and units.
(b) Determine the velocity (magnitude and algebraic sign) of the combined wreckage immediately after the collision.
(c) Describe in words what the sign of your answer in part (b) indicates about the motion of the wreckage relative to both cars’ original directions.