A truck with a mass of 8 tons travels at a velocity of 60km/h and collides with a truck with a mass of 5 tons traveling in the same direction at 40km/h. After the collision the two trucks travel together.

Calculate the final common velocity of the two trucks in m/s after the collision.

Question

A truck with a mass of 8 tons travels at a velocity of 60km/h and collides with a truck with a mass of 5 tons traveling in the same direction at 40km/h. After the collision the two trucks travel together.

Calculate the final common velocity of the two trucks in m/s after the collision.

theeric · Answer

This is a popular type of word problem for conservation of momentum.

Do you know what the conservation of momentum is?

theeric · Answer

What it says is true?

theeric · Answer

$$p_{before}=p_{after}$$
Before hand, you have two objects, and add their momentums.
Afterwards, you have one object.

theeric · Answer

Good luck!