Physics Homework Help?

Question

Two bumper cars in an amusement park ride collide elastically as one approaches the other directly from the rear. Car A has a mass of 435 kg and car B 485 kg . Car A approaches at 4.50 m/s and car B is moving at 3.70 m/s.

 

Part A Determine the velocity of car A after the collision.

Part B Determine the velocity of car B after the collision. 

Part C Calculate the change in momentum of car A after the collision.

Pard D Calculate the change in momentum of car A after the collision.

 

 

Answer 1

(A)

Step 1:

Mass of car A is kg.

Mass of car B is kg.

Initial speed of car A is m/sec.

Initial speed of car B is m/sec.

Let the velocities of car A and car B after the collision as .

Law of conservation of mechanical energy:  .

Substitute corresponding values in the formula.

Step 2:

The relative velocity of one particle with respect to the other is reversed by the collision.

Substitute in expression (1).

m/sec.

Velocity of car A  after the collision as  m/sec.

Solution:

Velocity of car A  after the collision as  m/sec.

Answer 2

(B)

Find the velocity of car B  after the collision.

From the part(a),  and .

Substitute  in .

m/sec.

Velocity of car B  after the collision is  m/sec.

Answer 3

(c)

Momentum of car A before the collision is .

From the part(a),  .

Calculate the change in momentum of car A after the collision.

Momentum of car A after the collision is .

Change in momentum of car A after the collision is .

.

Change in momentum of car A after the collision is .

Answer 4

(d)

Momentum of car B before the collision is .

Calculate the change in momentum of car B after the collision.

From the part(b),  .

Momentum of car B after the collision is .

Change in momentum of car B after the collision is .

.

Change in momentum of car B after the collision is .