Investigating Energy Transfer in a Collision Between Two Cars

[teeheehee]

A car of mass m moving East at speed v (v << c no need to use relativity) collides with another car of mass 2 m moving North with speed 3v.

a) What are the x and y components of the center of mass velocity of the system just before the collision?
b) If the cars stick together during the collision what is their common speed after the collision?
c) Determine the ratio of the total kinetic energy after the collision to the total kinetic energy
before the collision?
d) Explain why kinetic energy is not conserved but momentum is conserved during the collision

I got the first two parts but I'm not sure how to find the ratio of kinetic energy! Please help!

 

[HallsofIvy]

You are given the mass and speeds of the cars before the collision so you can easily find the kinetic energy. You say that you found the speed after the collision so you should be able to find the kinetic energy afterwards. So just divide one by the other.

 

[teeheehee]

Thanks! That was easier than I expected. What about part d? Why isn't kinetic conserved? This concept never really made much sense to me.

 

[phinds]

Thanks! That was easier than I expected. What about part d? Why isn't kinetic conserved? This concept never really made much sense to me.

What's the definition of kinetic energy? Does it have to do with motion? What happens if the motion stops?

 

[teeheehee]

What's the definition of kinetic energy? Does it have to do with motion? What happens if the motion stops?

Oh! It's because velocity changes, right?

 

[Dick]

Oh! It's because velocity changes, right?

Velocity changes in an elastic collision too but kinetic energy isn't lost. What happens when two cars collide besides a change in velocity?

 

[teeheehee]

Velocity changes in an elastic collision too but kinetic energy isn't lost. What happens when two cars collide besides a change in velocity?

Their mass becomes one?

 

[Dick]

Their mass becomes one?

No, I'm talking more about loud noises and fenders bending. Could that have anything to do with energy? You've already shown kinetic energy isn't conserved, I hope. The question is where could the missing energy have gone.