A 1,600 kg train car rolling freely on level track at 16 m/s bumps into a 1.0 × 103 kg train car moving at 10.0 m/s in the same direction, and the two latch onto each other and continue together. What is their final speed?
This item is solved through the concept of the conservation of momentum which states that the momentum before and after collision should be equal. momentum = mass x velocity (1,600 kg)(16 m/s) + (1.0x10^3 kg)(10 m/s) = (1600 + 1000 kg)(x) The value of x is 13.69 m/s. Thus, their final speed is approximately letter D. 14 m/s.
