Two automobiles of equal mass approach an intersection. One vehicle is traveling
ID: 1582544 • Letter: T
Question
Two automobiles of equal mass approach an intersection. One vehicle is traveling with velocity 12.0 m/s toward the east and the other is traveling north with speed v. Neither driver sees the other. The vehicles collide in the intersection and stick together, leaving parallel skid marks at an angle of S5.5° north of east. Determine the initial speed v of the northward-moving vehicle Your response is within 10% of the correct value. This may be due to roundoff error, or you could have a mistake in your calculation. Carry out all intermediate results to at least four-digit accuracy to minimize roundoff error. m/sExplanation / Answer
Using law of conservation of linear momentum
initial momentum Before collision = Final momentum after collision
along east west direction
(m*12) = (m+m)*v*cos(55.5)
v is the Final speed of the two automobiles after collision
12*m = 2*m*v*cos(55.5)
12 = 2*v*cos(55.5)
v = 10.6 m/s
along north south direction
m*v2 = (m+m)*v*sin(55.5)
m*v2 = 2m*10.6*sin(55.5)
v2 = 2*10.6*sin(55.5)
v2 = 17.5 m/s