Question
Two cars collide at an icy intersection and stick together afterward. The first car has a mass of 1200 kg and is approaching at 8.00 m/s due south. The second car has a mass of 850 kg and is approaching at 17.0 m/s due west. (a) Calculate the final velocity (magnitude and direction) of the cars. (b) How much kinetic energy is lost in the collision? (This energy goes into deformation of the cars.) Note that because 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.
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Final Answer
1. $8.46 \textrm{ m/s, } 33.6^\circ \textrm{ S of W}$
2. $8.78 \times 10^{4}\textrm{ J}$ of kinetic energy was lost.

Note that the question's claim that momentum is not conserved along the x and y axes is nonsense.

Solution Video

# OpenStax College Physics Solution, Chapter 8, Problem 50 (Problems & Exercises) (5:08)

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