Question

A 202 kg bumper car moving right at 8.50 m/s collides with a 355 kg car at rest. Afterwards, the 355 kg car moves right at 5.80 m/s. What is the momentum of the 202 kg car afterwards? (Unit-kg*m/s)

Answer 1

Explanation:

It is given that,

Mass of bumper car, m₁ = 202 kg

Initial speed of the bumper car, u₁ = 8.5 m/s

Mass of the other car, m₂ = 355 kg

Initial velocity of the other car is 0 as it at rest, u₂ = 0

Final velocity of the other car after collision, v₂ = 5.8 m/s

Let p₁ is momentum of of 202 kg car, p₁ = m₁v₁

Using the conservation of linear momentum as :

$m_1u_1+m_2u_2=m_1v_1+m_2v_2$

$202\ kg\times 8.5\ m/s+355\ kg\times 0=m_1v_1+355\ kg\times 5.8\ m/s$

p₁ = m₁v₁ = -342 kg-m/s

So, the momentum of the 202 kg car afterwards is 342 kg-m/s. Hence, this is the required solution.