Question

A 0.4-kg toy train car moving forward at 3 m/s collides with and sticks to a 0.8–kg toy car that is traveling in the opposite direction at –2 m/s. What is the size and direction of the final velocity of the two cars

Answer 1

Hey there!

Seems like you're looking for the size and direction to the final velocity of the two cars. To find it, you must solve it like this.

0.4 kg(3 m/s) + 0.8kg(–2 m/s) = 1.2 kg m/s -1.6 kg m/s = –0.4 kg m/s

–0.4 kg m/s = 1.2 kg(v) = (–0.4 kg m/s)/(1.2 kg) = v = –0.33 m/s

So, the cars are traveling at -0.33 m/s in the direction of the second car.

Hope this helps

Tobey