A 7150 kg truck traveling east at 5 m/s collides with a 1650 kg car traveling 30 degrees south of west at 20 m/s. After the collision at what angle do the two vehicles move. Express you answer in degrees from the positive x-axis. Use a coordinate where north is the +y axis and east is the +x axis.

Question

A 7150 kg truck traveling east at 5 m/s collides with a 1650 kg car traveling 30 degrees south of west at 20 m/s.   After the collision at what angle do the two vehicles move.   Express you answer in degrees from the positive x-axis.  Use a coordinate where north is the +y axis and east is the +x axis.

The answer is 293.4905300644 but I don't know how to get it. Thank you in advance.

Damon · Answer

initial east,x, momentum = 7150(5) -1650(20)cos 30
= 7,171

initial north,y, momentum = 0 - 1650(20)sin 30
= -16,500

Those will not change during the collision
so
tan of angle south of east = 16500/7171

angle south of east = 66.5 deg

Their answer, is 293.5 COUNTERCLOCKWISE from EAST (x axis direction), which would land on our line (360 - 66.5 = 293.5)

DRAW IT !!!!!
360 -293.5 = 66.5

Damon · Answer

By the way those of us who do navigation have trouble with x, y rather than east, north

Courtney · Answer

THANK YOU!