A 1500 kg car traveling at 15.0 m/s to the south collides with a 4500 kg truck that is at rest at a stopligt. The car comes to a stop but imparts all it’s mometum to the truck. How fast is the truck moving after the collision and in which direction? (Hint: this is an elastic collision)

m1v1 + m2v2 = m1v1 + m2v1

5 m/s, moving to the South.

Explanation:

Parameters given:

Mass of car, m = 1500 kg

Initial velocity of car, u = 15 m/s

Mass of truck, M = 4500 kg

Initial velocity of truck, v = 0 m/s (Truck is at rest)

Final velocity of car, U = 0 m/s (Car comes to a stop)

Final velocity of truck = V

Because the collision is elastic, we can apply the principle of conservation of momentum, we have that:

Total initial momentum = Total final momentum

m*u + M*U = m*v + M*V

(1500 * 15) + (4500 * 0) = (1500 * 0) + (4500 * V)

22500 + 0 = 0 + 00V

=> V = 22500/4500

V = 5 m/s

The velocity carries a positive sign, hence, it's moving in the same direction as the car was moving initially.

That is, it's moving to the South.

answercollision;