Two cars initially moving at an angle of 112 degrees towards each otherwill stick together after the collision and travel off as a single unit. The collision is therefore completely inelastic.

Question

The two cars of masses m1=1700kg and m2=2200kg, collisde at an intersection. Before the collision, car 1 was travellig eastward at a speed of v1=38km/h, and car 2 was travelling 22 degrees west of north at a speed of v2=38km/h. After the collision, the two cars stick together and travel off in the direction to be determined. What is the final velocity (magnitude and direction of the two cars sticking together)?

Answer 1

momentum is conserved

find the N-S and E-W components of the momentum of each car

add the components , and find the resultant

Answer 2

Given:
M1 = 1700 kg, V1 = 38km/h.
M2 = 2200 kg, V2 = 38 km/h[112o] CCW.

V3 = Velocity of M1 and M2 after collision.

Momentum before = Momentum after
M1*V1 + M2*V2 = M1*V3 + M2*V3.
1700*38 + 2200*38[112o] = 1700V3 + 2200V3,
64,600 + 83,600[112] = 3900V3,
Divide both sides by 3900:
V3 = 16.56 + 21.44[112] = 16.56 + (-8.03) + 19.88i,
V3 = 8.53 + 19.88i.
V3 = sqrt(8.53^2 + 19.88^2) =

TanA = Y/X = 19.88/8.53, A =