Inelastic collision: final velocity after collision

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves an inelastic collision between a car and a bug, where the car's mass is 1000 kg and its initial velocity is 19 m/s, while the bug has a mass of 9.0 g and an initial velocity of -1.5 m/s. The objective is to determine the change in velocity of the car after the collision.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the application of conservation of momentum and the calculation of change in velocity. There are attempts to simplify the calculations and address potential errors in previous attempts.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on how to approach the calculations, suggesting methods to avoid rounding errors and to expand and simplify expressions. There is an ongoing exploration of the calculations without a clear consensus on the final answer.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of significant figures and are questioning the accuracy of their calculations. There is a focus on ensuring that the terms are correctly combined and simplified.

emily081715
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Homework Statement


You are driving your 1000-kg car at a velocity of(19 m/s )ι^ when a 9.0-g bug splatters on your windshield. Before the collision, the bug was traveling at a velocity of (-1.5 m/s )ι^.
What is the change in velocity of the car due to its encounter with the bug?

Homework Equations


pi = pf
m1v1 + m2v2 = (m1 + m2)v

The Attempt at a Solution


i attempted to solve for the change in velocity using the equation outlined below and got answer of -3.0x10^-5. i know this answer is inncorrect but i cannot seem to locate my source of error
Δv=(1.9x10^4)+ (-1.35x10^-2) -19 m/s
1000 +0.009
 
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emily081715 said:

Homework Statement


You are driving your 1000-kg car at a velocity of(19 m/s )ι^ when a 9.0-g bug splatters on your windshield. Before the collision, the bug was traveling at a velocity of (-1.5 m/s )ι^.
What is the change in velocity of the car due to its encounter with the bug?

Homework Equations


pi = pf
m1v1 + m2v2 = (m1 + m2)v

The Attempt at a Solution


i attempted to solve for the change in velocity using the equation outlined below and got answer of -3.0x10^-5. i know this answer is inncorrect but i cannot seem to locate my source of error
Δv=(1.9x10^4)+ (-1.35x10^-2) -19 m/s
1000 +0.009
Bring the terms of the difference to common denominator, then 1.9x10^4 cancels, and you avoid rounding errors.
 
ehild said:
Bring the terms of the difference to common denominator, then 1.9x10^4 cancels, and you avoid rounding errors.
i am unsure what you mean for me to do/ how to do that
 
You calculate the difference ##\frac {19\cdot 1000- 1.5\cdot 0.009}{1000+0.009}-19 = \frac{19\cdot 1000- 1.5\cdot 0.009-19(1000+0.009)}{1000+0.009}##
Expand and simplify.
 
ehild said:
You calculate the difference ##\frac {19\cdot 1000- 1.5\cdot 0.009}{1000+0.009}-19 = \frac{19\cdot 1000- 1.5\cdot 0.009-19(1000+0.009)}{1000+0.009}##
Expand and simplify.
i got an answer of -1.8449 x10^-4
 
emily081715 said:
i got an answer of -1.8449 x10^-4
It looks correct, but do not keep more than 3 significant digits.
 

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