A train is moving at 13 m/s and has a mass of 2363 kg. A broken down car (loaded with heavy bricks) is stopped on the train track. Upon impact, the train and car get tangled together and travel at a constant velocity of 3 m/s.

Question

A train is moving at 13 m/s and has a mass of 2363 kg.  A broken down car (loaded with heavy bricks) is stopped on the train track. Upon impact, the train and car get tangled together and travel at a constant velocity of 3 m/s.

What is the mass of the broken down car?
answer please

Steve · Answer

2363kg for a train? That's some small train! conserve momentum 2363(13) = (2363+x)(3) kinda hard to ignore friction in such a scenario, right? Oh, well.

Henry · Answer

Given:
M1 = 2363kg, V1 = 13 m/s.
M2 = ?, V2 = 0.
V3 = 3 m/s = Velocity of M1 and M2 after collision.

Momentum before = Momentum after.
M1*V1 + M2*V2 = M1*V3 + M2*V3.
2363*13 + M2*0 = 2363*3 + + M2*3,
2363*13-2363*3 = M2*3,
M2 = ?