A 2,000-kg car moving east at 10.0 m/s collides with a 3,000-kg car moving north. The cars stick together and move as a unit after the collision, at an angle of 39.0° north of east and at a speed of 5.15 m/s. Find the speed of the 3,000-kg car before the collision.

Answer 1

keep the momentum the same

2000*10i + 3000vj = 5000*5.15(cos39°i + sin39°j)

Now, 5000*5.15*cos39° = 20000
so, 3000v = 5000*5.15*sin39° = 16196
v = 5.40