MEDAL GIVEN TO CORRECT ANSWER.
A car traveling 13 m/s to the north collides with a car traveling 19 m/s to the south. Each car has a mass of 1250 kg. If the system is defined as the two cars, what is the change in momentum of the system due to the collision?

A. 23,750 kgm/s
B. 16,250 kgm/s
C. 0 kgm/s
D. 40,000 kgm/s

Question

MEDAL GIVEN TO CORRECT ANSWER. 
A car traveling 13 m/s to the north collides with a car traveling 19 m/s to the south. Each car has a mass of 1250 kg. If the system is defined as the two cars, what is the change in momentum of the system due to the collision?

 		A.	23,750 kgm/s
 		B.	16,250 kgm/s
 		C.	0 kgm/s
 		D.	40,000 kgm/s

anonymous · Answer

Without an external force, the system momentum is constant.

anonymous · Answer

Hmmm...there is no mention of external force (as @douglaswinslowcooper pointed out). So it would seem the best answer is C.

Still though, I'm a little dubious--I hope it's not one of those "trick" questions.

anonymous · Answer

Do you by any chance have more information for this question?

anonymous · Answer

Well, if there is no more information, then I go with C.