A 1000 mathrm(~kg) car is traveling 12 mathrm(~m) / mathrm(s) to the right when it collides head-on with a 2000 mathrm(~kg) pickup truck traveling 8 mathrm(~m) / mathrm(s) to the left. The vehicles lock together inelastically following the collision. Which direction will the vehicles travel after the collision? left

Question

A 1000 mathrm(~kg) car is traveling 12 mathrm(~m) / mathrm(s) to the right when it collides head-on with a 2000 mathrm(~kg) pickup truck traveling 8 mathrm(~m) / mathrm(s) to the left. The vehicles lock together inelastically following the collision. Which direction will the vehicles travel after the collision? left

Answer 1

### The vehicles will travel to the left after the collision.

Answer 2

## Step 1: Define the given values### For the car:- Mass,

- Velocity,

(to the right)### For the pickup truck:- Mass,

- Velocity,

(to the left, hence negative)## Step 2: Calculate the initial momentum of each vehicle### Momentum is calculated using the formula

.### For the car:

### For the pickup truck:

## Step 3: Calculate the total initial momentum### The total initial momentum is the sum of the momenta of both vehicles.

## Step 4: Determine the direction of travel after collision### Since the total initial momentum is negative, the combined mass will move in the direction of the negative momentum, which is to the left.

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Solution

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Explanation