How to Calculate the Mass of the Second Boxcar in a Collision

What is the mass of the second boxcar?

A 9900 kg boxcar traveling at 17 m/s strikes a second boxcar at rest. The two stick together and move off with a speed of 9.0 m/s. What is the mass of the second car?

Answer:

The mass of the second boxcar which was struck by a 9900 kg boxcar traveling at 17 m/s is 18,300 kg.

To calculate the mass of the second boxcar in this collision scenario, we can use the principle of conservation of momentum. According to this principle, the total momentum of a closed system remains constant if no external forces act on it.

Before the collision occurs, the momentum of the first boxcar can be calculated using the formula: momentum = mass x velocity. In this case, the momentum of the first boxcar is 168,300 kg⋅m/s. Since the second boxcar is initially at rest, its momentum is 0.

After the collision, both boxcars stick together and move off with a speed of 9.0 m/s. By applying the conservation of momentum principle (initial momentum = final momentum), we can calculate the mass of the second boxcar. Solving the equation, we find that the mass of the second boxcar is 18,300 kg.

Therefore, the mass of the second boxcar in this collision scenario is 18,300 kg. This calculation showcases the application of fundamental principles of physics in determining the outcome of a collision between two objects.