Car 1 has a of mass 1000kg and is going at 20m/s. Car 2 has the same mass as Car 1 and is stationary. If they collide and travel together as one unit in the same direction as Car 1 was going, calculate the speed of the unit after the collision.

By Conservation of Momentum

Total Momentum Before= Total Momentum After

thus

m1v1+m2v2=(m1+m2)v3

Plugging in the numbers and re-arranging for v3 gives

100020+10000=2000*v3

v3=(1000*20)/2000=10m/s

AH
Answered by Aamir H. Physics tutor

15945 Views

See similar Physics GCSE tutors

Related Physics GCSE answers

All answers ▸

If Jessica weighs 45kg and sits on a seesaw at a distance of 2m from the centre of the seesaw.Micheal weighs 90kg. At what point on the opposite side should Micheal sit in order to balance the seesaw.


What's the difference between distance and displacement


Explain the difference between a longitudinal and transverse wave.


A cyclist travels along a straight flat road. Describe the condition required for the cyclist to continue traveling along the road at a constant speed. How does this condition change if the cyclist travels up a slope?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning