A railway car of mass m1 travelling at a velocity of v1 collides with a second car of mass m2 travelling at v2 and the two join together. What is their final velocity?

Momentum is conserved in any collision, and for a single body is given by p = mv. The momentum before is m1v1+m2v2, and the momentum after is (m1 + m2)u where u is the final velocity, so the final velocity is (m1v + m2*v2)/(m1 + m2).

Answered by Physics tutor

1729 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

A sample of pure gold has a density of 19300 kgm^-3. If the density of a gold nucleus is 1.47x10^17Kgm^-3, discuss what this implies about the structure of the gold atom. [4 marks]


What does the photoelectric effect demonstrate?


Explain quantitatively how an object can follow circular motion whilst on a ramp with no friction in the radial direction.


Hydrogen has a single proton and a single electron. Find the electric potential at a distance of 0.50 * 10^(-10) (m) from the proton.


We're here to help

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

© MyTutorWeb Ltd 2013–2025

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy
Cookie Preferences