Question

What is the increase in internal energy of the car and truck (thermal energy and deformation)?

Scenario One: A car of mass 2100 kg collides with a truck of mass 4900 kg, and just after the collision the car and truck slide along, stuck together, with no rotation. The car's velocity just before the collision was <31, 0, 0> m/s, and the truck's velocity just before the collision was <-10, 0, 26> m/s.

Scenario Two: A car of mass 1800 kg collides with a truck of mass 5100 kg, and just after the collision the car and truck slide along, stuck together, with no rotation. The car's velocity just before the collision was < 43, 0, 0 > m/s, and the truck's velocity just before the collision was < -22, 0, 20 > m/s. Use the concept of the center-of-momentum reference frame.

Answer 1