A railroad car of ams m is moving at speed v when it collides with a second railroad car of mas M which is at rest. The two cars lock together instantaneously and move along the track.
What is the speeed of the cars immediatly after the collision?
How would you find it?
v1 – speed of car 1 before collision
m = mass of car 1
M = mass of car 2
v2 = speed of car 2 = 0
v3 = speed of both cars after collision
mv1 +Mv2 = (m+M)v3
v3 = m/(m+M)