Question

Two 110 kg bumper cars are moving toward each other in opposite directions. Car A is moving at 8 m/s and Car Z at –10 m/s when they collide head–on. If the resulting velocity of Car A after the collision is –10 m/s, what is the velocity of Car Z after the collision?

Answer 1

Explanation:

Mass of bumper cars, $m_1=m_2=110\ kg$

Initial speed of car A, $u_1=8\ m/s$

Initial speed of car Z, $u_2=-10\ m/s$

Final speed of car A after the collision, $v_1=-10\ m/s$

We need to find the velocity of car Z after the collision. Let it is equal to $v_2$. Using the conservation of momentum as :

$m_1u_1+m_2u_2=m_1v_1+m_2v_2$

$110\times 8+110\times (-10)=110\times (-10)+110v_2$

$v_2=\dfrac{-1320}{110}\ m/s$

$v_2=-12\ m/s$

So, the velocity of car Z after the collision is (-12 m/s). Hence, this is the required solution.