The stoplight had just changed and a 2100 kg cadillac had entered the intersection, heading north at 3.2 m/s , when it was struck by a 1100 kg eastbound volkswagen. the cars stuck together and slid to a halt, leaving skid marks angled 35° north of east. how fast was the volkswagen going just before the impact?

Explanation:

It is given that,

Mass of the Cadillac,

Speed of Cadillac, (towards north)

Mass of Volkswagen,

The cars stuck together and slid to a halt, leaving skid marks angled 35 degrees north of east.

According to the law of conservation of momentum,

The momentum along x axis, ............(1)

The momentum along y axis, ...........(2)

From equation (1) and (2) it is clear that,

So, the Volkswagen going just before the impact is 8.72 m/s. Hence, this is the required solution.

d₁ = displacement of tern from arctic to antarctic = 11000 miles

d₂ = displacement of tern from antarctic to arctic =   - 11000 miles

d = total displacement for the journey

total displacement for the journey is given as

d = d₁ + d₂

d = 11000 + (-11000)

d = 0 miles

t₁ = time of travel from arctic to antarctic = 3 months = 3 x 30 days = 90 days

t₂ = time of travel from antarctic to arctic = 3 months = 3 x 30 days = 90 days

t = total time of travel

total time of travel is given as

t = t₁ + t₂

t = 90 + 90

t = 180 days

average velocity is given as

average velocity = total displacement/ total time

v = d/t

v = 0/180

v = 0 miles/day