Question
A 485 kg boxcar traveling at 23 m/s strikes a second car (initially at rest). The cars couple, and move off at 9 m/s. What is the mass of the second car?
Answers
drwls
Since momentum is conserved during the brief collision,
485*23 = (485 + M)*9
Solve for M, the mass of the second car.
485 + M = 1239.4
M = 754.4 kg
Since there is only one significant figure in the final speed, it would be better to say M = 750 kg
485*23 = (485 + M)*9
Solve for M, the mass of the second car.
485 + M = 1239.4
M = 754.4 kg
Since there is only one significant figure in the final speed, it would be better to say M = 750 kg