A railroad diesel engine coasting at 1.2 m/s runs into a stationary flatcar that has a mass of 1000 kg. The diesel weighs 5 times as much as the flatcar. Assuming the cars couple together, how fast are they moving after the collision? What type of collision is this?

V = 0.2 m/s

Explanation:

given,

speed of the diesel engine = 1.2 m/s

mass of car = 1000 Kg

using conservation of momentum

m₁v₁ + m₂v₂ = (m₁ + m₂) V

v₂ = 0 for stationary flatcar

1.2 m₂ = (5 m₂ + m₂) V

1.2 m₂ = (6 m₂) V

V = 0.2 m/s

hence, the velocity moving after collision is equal to 0.2 m/s