Answer: Accident Analysis. Two cars collide at an | StudySoup

Textbook Solutions for Sears and Zemansky's University Physics with Modern Physics

Chapter 8 Problem 38E

Question

Problem 38E

Accident Analysis. Two cars collide at an intersection. Car A , with a mass of 2000 kg, is going from west to east, while car B , of mass 1500 kg, is going from north to south at 15 m/s. As a result, the two cars become enmeshed and move as one. As an expert witness, you inspect the scene and determine that, after the collision, the enmeshed cars moved at an angle of 65° south of east from the point of impact. (a) How fast were the enmeshed cars moving just after the collision? (b) How fast was car A going just before the collision?

Solution

Solution 38E

Step 1 of 3:

The momentum is conserved during the collision. Since the motions involved are in two dimensions, we must consider the components separately.consider the  coordinates  x and y where +x is east and +y is south. The system of two cars before and after the collision is shown in diagram .

Neglect friction from the road during the collision. The enmeshed cars have a total mass of 2000 kg+1500 kg=3500 kg

There are no external forces during the collision , so conservation of momenta are

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Title Sears and Zemansky's University Physics with Modern Physics 13 
Author Hugh D. Young; Roger A. Freedman; A. Lewis Ford
ISBN 9780321696861

Answer: Accident Analysis. Two cars collide at an

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