Energy and Momentum: Elastic Collision of 2 Trains

[yummallory]

Homework Statement

Thomas the train and Diesel are involved in an elastic collision. A 2.5 kg Thomas is, at rest but is approached head-on by a 5.0 kg Diesel moving at 0.60 m/s. The force-separation graph for the ensuing collision is given: http://tinypic.com/r/2zyftae/7

a. What is the total kinetic energy before the collision? After?
b. What is the velocity of each train at minimum separation?
c. What is the total kinetic energy at minimum separation?
d. How much energy is stored at minimum separation?
e. What is the minimum separation distance between the trains? Hint: The energy temporarily stored at minimum separation equals a portion of the area under the above graph. The collision starts when the centers of the trains are separated by 0.03 m as shown on the above graph at which time the collision force is 15 N. But this force increases to 30 N and then eventually 45 N.
f. What is the magnitude of the force acting on each mass at minimum separation?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

I have no idea how to even start these questions, so if someone could help me with at least some of them or show me how to start them that'd be great..thank you!

 

[tiny-tim]

hi yummallory!

surely you know how to do a. ?

for the rest, you have a force against distance graph,

so the area under it will be the integral of force times distance, which is … ? ​