Energy transfer, not sure how to do

Thread starter GunarsA
Start date Mar 27, 2011
Tags

Energy Energy transfer

AI Thread Summary

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving a collision between two railroad cars, one moving and the other stationary. The key concept to apply is the conservation of momentum, which is essential for solving inelastic collision problems. The initial momentum of the system can be calculated using the mass and velocity of the moving car, while the final momentum includes the velocities of both cars post-collision. Participants encourage using this principle to find the speed of the empty car after the collision. Understanding momentum conservation is crucial for solving similar physics problems effectively.

Mar 27, 2011

GunarsA

Homework Statement

1) 27,000 kg railroad car moving at 2.7 m/s hits a railroad car (stationary) weighing 9,300 kg. Heavy railroad car goes opposite direction at .6 m/s. How fast will the empty car go?

Homework Equations

no clue

The Attempt at a Solution

No idea where to start with this

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Mar 27, 2011

cupid.callin

Hi GunarsA

Welcome to PF !

did you try Using conservation of momentum??

Mar 27, 2011

Sniperman724

This sound like a coughinelasticcollisioncough problem :)

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