Two identical cars were involved in a collision at an icy intersection. Car A was stopped at a traffic light. Car B was moving at a speed vwhen it suffered a perfectly inelastic collision with the back end of car A. With what speed did the two cars slide into the intersection after the collision?

Question

Physics

Cristopher Li

16 February, 18:39

Two identical cars were involved in a collision at an icy intersection. Car A was stopped at a traffic light. Car B was moving at a speed vwhen it suffered a perfectly inelastic collision with the back end of car A. With what speed did the two cars slide into the intersection after the collision?

+5

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Adam Mills · Answer 1

in the problem we dont have any external Forces so we know the momentum is constant

and we know in perfectly inelastic collisions the masses will stick together and continue with same velocity

mv = 2mv'

v' = v/2