Physics: Vehichles travelling different directions collide, what is the resulting velocity?

Feb 13

travelling
Lindsey P asked:


If one vehicle driving 30 meters/second collides with another travelling in the opposite directing at 20 meters/second in a front end collision, assuming they both have a mass of 1000 Kg, what is the resulting velocity?

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One comment

  1. m_1= 1000kg m_2= 1000 kg
    v_1= 30 m/s v_2= -20 m/s

    This is a momentum problem.
    m_1v_1+ m_2v_2 = (m_1+m_2) v_f
    1000(30)+ 1000(-20)= (2000)v_f
    10000/2000= v_f
    v_f=5 m/s in the direction of the first vehicle.

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