A railway wagon of mass is rolling without friction along a level track at
PHYSICS · Multi-part · CBSE · Physics · Work, Energy and Power · Work, Energy and Power
Problem
A railway wagon A of mass 4.0×104kg is rolling without friction along a level track at 2.0ms−1. It collides with an identical stationary wagon B on the same track. After coupling, the joined wagons climb a smooth track that rises 1m for every 100m along the rail.
(i) Calculate the common speed of the coupled wagons immediately after impact.
(ii) Determine their kinetic energy just after coupling.
(iii) Assuming no energy losses other than those in the coupling, find the vertical height they will rise before coming momentarily to rest.
(iv) Hence calculate the distance measured along the incline that the coupled wagons will travel upward before stopping.