Two railroad cars, each of mass 6500 kg and traveling 80 km/h in opposite directions, collide head-on and come to rest. how much thermal energy is produced in this collision?

This problem can be assume that the two railroad cars are moving toward each other, and not in opposite direction, because of the condition of an head collision.

Given: Mass of Car₁ = 6,500 Kg; Mass of Car₂ = 6,500 Kg

Velocity of each Car V = 80 Km/h or 22.22 m/s

Required: Thermal energy or Total Kinetic energy

Formula: K. E = 1/2 MV²

Solution: Total Kinetic energy or Tke = (1/2 MV²) car₁ + (1/2 MV²) car₂

Tke = 1/2 (6,500 Kg) (22.22 m/s) ² + 1/2 (6,500 Kg) (22.22 m/s) ²

Total Thermal energy or Tke = 3,209 Joules