Question

Two railroad cars, each of mass 6500 kg and traveling 80 km/h in opposite directions, collide head-on and come to rest. how much thermal energy is produced in this collision?

Answer 1

This problem can be assume that the two railroad cars are moving  toward each other, and not in opposite direction, because of the condition of an head collision.

Given: Mass of Car₁ = 6,500 Kg;  Mass of Car₂ = 6,500 Kg

           Velocity of each Car  V = 80 Km/h or 22.22 m/s

 Required: Thermal energy or Total Kinetic energy

Formula: K.E = 1/2 MV²

Solution: Total Kinetic energy or  Tke  = (1/2 MV²)car₁ + (1/2 MV²)car₂

Tke = 1/2 (6,500 Kg)(22.22 m/s)² + 1/2 (6,500 Kg)(22.22 m/s)²

Total Thermal energy or Tke = 3,209 Joules