# Linear momentum problem

1. Mar 14, 2013

### diorific

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

Car A is travelling at a steady speed of 15ms−1 (approximately 32mph)
in a straight line when it is hit from the left by car B. Each car has the
same mass, and it can be assumed that they can each be modelled as a
particle. The two cars coalesce after the collision and travel in a straight
line at a direction of 75◦ to the original direction of car A, as shown in the
diagram below, where X is the point of collision.

The diagram is a plan view, and k is directed vertically upwards.

(a) The suggested alignments for the unit vectors are parallel and
perpendicular to the direction of the coalesced cars, as shown in the
diagram. Write down the momentum of each car before the collision

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution

Using the notation P.before and P.after for the total linear momentum before and after and vB for the velocity of B, we have

PA.before= m(15cos75)i + m(15sin75)j
PB.before= m*vB(i+J)

The thing is because i don't have the angle for B I'm not sure if the above is correct.

2. Mar 14, 2013

### DimReg

Your expression for PB.before has the same magnitude for i and j. This assumes a specific angle (45 degrees from i). If you don't have the angle, you should write something more general than that. (Hint, why did you write cos75 for PA.before?)

Did you want help with the whole question or just help writing down PB.before? You didn't actually state what your supposed to do in this problem, so I can't help you with the latter.

3. Mar 14, 2013

### Staff: Mentor

Decompose the problem into $p_i$ and $p_j$.

4. Mar 14, 2013

### diorific

Well, the question continues as follows, but I only wanted help for part a.

(b) The police estimate that the coefficient of friction between the road
surface and coalesced cars was 0.9, and that the distance travelled by
the coalesced cars was 17m. From these estimates, estimate the speed
of the coalesced cars just after the collision, with justification of your
approach, and quoting a reference to any formula that you use. [5]
(c) Write down the momentum of the coalesced cars just after the
collision. [1]
(d) Estimate the speed of car B in mph, explaining which principle you
use.

Then PB.Before=m*vb ? without the vector components?

I'll try to solve the rest of the question, if I have any problems I'll come back :)

5. Mar 15, 2013

### diorific

So, does anyone know the linear momentum for car B??

6. Mar 15, 2013

### haruspex

That's wrong. As DrClaude suggested, you can put different scalars in the I and j directions, or you drop the i and j and treat vB as a vector.
Either way, you need an expression for the total momentum after collision.

7. Mar 15, 2013

### diorific

If I put PB.Before=m*vb
This is why I'm confused, since PA.before has vector components I don't know how to add it up to PB.before to get the momemtum after collision.

8. Mar 15, 2013

### Staff: Mentor

I was re-reading the problem and shouldn't you take
as meaning that B is travelling at 90° to A?

9. Mar 15, 2013

### diorific

it could be, but the diagram is not showing 90 degrees.
But if there is no other way of solving this i might do it this way.

10. Mar 15, 2013

### Staff: Mentor

I wan't sure if you had made the diagram, or if it was part of the problem. Then, no, do not assume 90°. In the first part of the problem, you do not have enough information to give a numerical answer for car B. You will have to express it in terms of an unknown.

11. Mar 15, 2013

### diorific

then this is correct PB.Before=m*vb

Now I've done part B and the initial velocity after collision is 17.326

So how do I find the total momentum after collision??

12. Mar 15, 2013

### Staff: Mentor

If you have the velocity, don't you have the momentum?

13. Mar 15, 2013

### diorific

Yes, all sorted :)

14. Mar 15, 2013

### haruspex

You know the combined mass, speed and direction after collision.
Btw, you could determine the component of B's initial momentum in the j direction from the information in part a. But you do need the info from part b to get the i component.