What direction does the wreckage move after two cars collide and stick together?

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When two cars of equal mass and speed collide head-on and stick together, they will come to a complete stop due to the conservation of momentum. Since one car is moving north and the other south at the same speed, their momentum cancels each other out. The symmetry of the situation means there is no net movement in either direction after the collision. Therefore, the wreckage remains stationary post-collision. This illustrates the principle of momentum conservation in perfectly balanced collisions.
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two cars, each of mass 1000 kg, are moving at the same speed, 20 m/s, when they collide and stick together. in what direction and at what speed does the wreckage move is one car was driving north and one south?

i can't seem to figure this one out
 
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Use conservation of momentum.
 
Just think about it aj_2008. You don't need any equations for this.

You have 2 cars, exact same mass, and exact same speed (opposite direction). So, this whole problem is perfectly symmetric. They collide. Now, does it make sense to you that they move to the right? Or to the left?

again, there is no difference between the 2 cars.
 

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