A 2.0 kg lab car moving to the right with an initial velocity of 3.0 m/s collides with a 1.0 kg lab car moving to the left with a velocity of 8.0 m/s in a inelastic collision. What us the final velocity?

Question

Take left to be negative.

Answer 1

inelastic means the cars stick together

momentum is conserved

(2.0 * 3.0) - (1.0 * 8.0) = (2.0 + 1.0) * v