3 boxcars moving along frictionless track hits a motionless boxcar

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SUMMARY

In a physics problem involving momentum conservation, three boxcars moving at 20 m/s collide with a stationary boxcar. Given that all boxcars have equal mass, the final speed of the four coupled boxcars after the collision is calculated to be 15 m/s. The solution utilizes the principle of conservation of momentum, applying Newton's laws to derive the final velocity.

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Homework Statement


Three boxcars are rolling along a virtually frictionless track at 20m/s when they strike another boxcar sitting motionless on the track. what is the new speed of the 4 coupled bovcars? all the boxcars have the same mass

Homework Equations


3rd or 2nd Newton law

The Attempt at a Solution


m_a(20) + m_b(20) + m_c(20) + m_d(0) = m_a(v_f) + m_b(v_f) + m_c(v_f) + m_d(v_f)
since all of the masses are equal i cross all of them out.
60 = 4v_f
v_f = 15m/s
 
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chaotiiic said:

Homework Statement


Three boxcars are rolling along a virtually frictionless track at 20m/s when they strike another boxcar sitting motionless on the track. what is the new speed of the 4 coupled bovcars? all the boxcars have the same mass


Homework Equations


3rd or 2nd Newton law


The Attempt at a Solution


m_a(20) + m_b(20) + m_c(20) + m_d(0) = m_a(v_f) + m_b(v_f) + m_c(v_f) + m_d(v_f)
since all of the masses are equal i cross all of them out.
60 = 4v_f
v_f = 15m/s

That is the correct answer to the problem you described.
 
PeterO said:
That is the correct answer to the problem you described.
thankyou.
 

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