A 2137 kg car moving east at 12.91 m/s collides with a 3264 kg car moving north. The cars stick together and move as a unit after the collision, at an angle of 36.8 ◦ north of east and at a speed of 6.38 m/s. What was the speed of the 3264 kg car before the collision? Answer in units of m/s.

The speed of the 3264 kg car before collision is 6.32 m/s

Explanation:

Let first car, mass m₁, moving east be moving with velocity, v₁ and second car, mass m₂, moving north be moving with velocity, v₂. Let the velocity of the two cars after collision be v₃

In a Collison (whether elastic or inelastic), momentum is always conserved.

Momentum before collision = momentum after collision.

Momentum before collision = m₁v₁ + m₂v₂

v₁ = (12.91î) m/s in vector form, m₁ = 2137 kg

v₂ = ?, v₂ = (v₂j) m/s in vector form, m₂ = 3264 kg

Momentum before collision = (2137)(12.91î) + (3264)(v₂j) = (27590î + 3264v₂j) kgm/s

Momentum after collision = (total mass of the cars after collision) × (velocity of the stuck-together cars after collision)

Total mass of the cars after collision = m₁ + m₂ = 2137 + 3264 = 5401 kg

Velocity after collision, v₃ = 6.38 m/s In the N36.8°E direction, put in vector form,

v₃ = (6.38 cos 36.8°î + 6.38 sin 36.8°j)

v₃ = (5.11î + 3.82j) m/s

Momentum after collision = 5401 (5.11î + 3.82j) = (27590î + 20641.4j) kgm/s

Momentum before collision = momentum after collision.

(27590î + 3264v₂j) = (27590î + 20641.4j)

Comparing components

3264v₂ = 20641.4j

v₂ = 6.32 m/s

Hope this Helps!!!

not too sure thinking all accelerations are pointed down