Question

Two cars collide at an icy intersection and stick together afterward. The first car has a mass of 1650 kg and was approaching at 5.00 m/s due south. The second car has a mass of 700 kg and was approaching at 18.0 m/s due west. (a) Calculate the final velocity of the cars (In m/s). (Note that since both cars have an initial velocity, you cannot use the equations for conservation of momentum along the x-axis and y-axis; instead, you must look for other simplifying aspects..)

(a) Magnitude: (m/s)

Direction: (° (counterclockwise from west is positive) )

(b) How much kinetic energy is lost in the collision? (This energy goes into deformation of the cars.)

Answer 1