Calculating Velocity After Collision of Two Cars

[jmoser]

A car with a mass of 1007 kg is moving 36 m/s, strikes a 2499 kg car at rest. if the two cars stick together, with what speed do they move?

I tried using the equation mass of object 1st car*(initial velocity of car 1 + initial velocticy
of car 2) the divide by the mass of car 2. i don't know what to do please help

 

[jmoser]

sorry i wrote the wrong title

 

[tiny-tim]

welcome to pf!

hi jmoser! welcome to pf!

(never make the first reply to your own question … it removes the question from the no-replies list! … if necessary, use the EDIT button instead )

A car with a mass of 1007 kg is moving 36 m/s, strikes a 2499 kg car at rest. if the two cars stick together, with what speed do they move?

I tried using the equation mass of object 1st car*(initial velocity of car 1 + initial velocticy
of car 2) the divide by the mass of car 2. i don't know what to do please help

just take it slowly …

i] what is total momentum before?

ii] what is total momentum after?

 

[jmoser]

ok thanks ill remember that :) ok the total momentum before is 36252 all i did was mass times velocity and add both momentum for both and that is what i got and after the collision it is the same right?

 

[tiny-tim]

hi jmoser!

ok the total momentum before is 36252

that's right!

all i did was mass times velocity and add both momentum for both and that is what i got and after the collision it is the same right?

your english is difficult to understand

yes, the total momentum after is also 36252 …

so what is the speed? ​