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| Physics | |
Collision at an Angle
Two cars, both of mass m, collide and stick together. Prior to the collision, one car had been traveling north at speed 2v, while the second was traveling at speed v at an angle (phi) south of east (as indicated in the figure). After the collision, the two-car system travels at speed v(final)at an angle (alpha) east of north.
Find the speed v(final)of the joined cars after the collision.
Express your answer in terms of v and alpha. |
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| 2 Answers |
Asked By thuy nguyen |
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The important thing here is to remember that momentum is a vector because is it based on velocity, which is a vector. (p = mv) Therefore, the momentums of both car can be broken up into momentums in the Y-axis direction and momentum in the X-axis direction.
The car travelling north has only a momentum in the Y axis direction of +2mv. The car travelling south has a momentum in the Y axis direction of -mv sin alpha (or cos alpha depending on how the figure is drawn). The car travelling south also has a momentum in the X axis direction.
The total momentum initially will be the same as the total momentum finally, so you just sum the individual momentums. Remember, though, that to find the velocity you need to divide the resultant momentum of the two cars by 2m since both cars are stuck together. |
| Answered By Aprenda, Inc. |
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