Question

A 1200-kg station wagon is moving along a straight highway at Another car, with mass 1800 kg and speed has its center of mass 40.0 m ahead of the center of mass of the station wagon (Fig. E8.54). (a) Find the position of the center of mass of the system consisting

Answer 1

Answer:

Center of mass lies 24 m in front of center of mass of second wagon.

Explanation:

Suppose A 1200 kg station wagon is moving along a straight highway at 12.0 m/s. Another car with mass 1800 kg and speed 20.0 m/s.

Given that,

Mass of first wagon = 1200 kg

Mass of second wagon = 180 kg

Distance = 40 m

We need to calculate the position of the center of mass of the system

Using formula of center mass

$x_{cm}=\dfrac{m_{1}x_{1}+m_{2}x_{2}}{m_{1}+m_{2}}$

$x_{cm}=\dfrac{1200\times0+1800\times40}{1200+1800}$

$x_{cm}=24\ m$

Hence, Center of mass lies 24 m in front of center of mass of second wagon.