I need help
A 480-kg car moving at 14.4 m/s hits from behind a 570-kg car moving at 13.3 m/s in the same direction. If the new speed of the heavier car is 14.0 m/s, what is the speed of the lighter car after the collision, assuming that any unbalanced forces on the system are negligibly small?

Respuesta :

This question involves the conservation of momentum. The system under consideration will be the two cars.
Total momentum before collision = total momentum after collision
momentum = mass x velocity
m₁u₁ + m₂u₂ = m₁v₁ + m₂v₂
480 x 14.4 + 570 x 13.3 = 480v₁ + 570 x 14
v₁ = 13.6 m/s