Ask Question
17 September, 16:42

A freight car with a mass of 10 metric tons is rolling at 108 km/h along a level track when it collides with another freight car, which is initially at rest. If the speed of the cars after they couple together is 36 km/h, what is the mass of the second car?

+3
Answers (1)
  1. 17 September, 20:34
    0
    20 metric tons

    Explanation:

    Using the Principle of Conservation of Linear Momentum which states that the total momentum of a system is constant in any direction in which no external force acts.

    momentum before collision = momentum after collision

    mathematically expressed as

    m1u1 + m2u2 = m1v1+m2v2 = 0

    where:

    m1 = mass of rolling freight car = 10 metric tons = 10Mg

    1 ton = 1000kg = 1Mg

    u1 = initial velocity of freight car = 108km/h,

    m2 = mass of stationary freight car = ?, this the unknown we are finding

    u2 = initial velocity of

    m2 = 0, because it is at rest,

    v1 = final velocity of m1,

    v2 = final velocity of m2

    since they move together in the same direction they share a common final velocity as such

    v1=v2 = 36km/h

    substituting valves in expression give

    m1u1 + m2u2 = m1v1 + m2v2 = 0

    10Mgx 108km/hr + m2 x 0 = 10Mg x 36km/h + m2x36km/h

    1080 (Mg x km/hr) + 0 = 360 (Mg x Km/h) + 36m2 (km/h)

    1080 (Mgx km/hr) - 360 (Mg x km/h) = 36m2 (km/h)

    720 (Mg x km/h) = 36m2 (km/h)

    divide both side by 36 (km/h) gives

    m2 = 20Mg = 20 metric tons
Know the Answer?
Not Sure About the Answer?
Find an answer to your question ✅ “A freight car with a mass of 10 metric tons is rolling at 108 km/h along a level track when it collides with another freight car, which is ...” in 📘 Physics if you're in doubt about the correctness of the answers or there's no answer, then try to use the smart search and find answers to the similar questions.
Search for Other Answers