What Speed and Direction Does the Tangled Metal Move Post-Collision?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on a collision between two cars, where one car is traveling northeast and the other south, resulting in them sticking together post-collision. The conservation of momentum equation is applied, but the user struggles with incorporating the angle of the northeast direction into their calculations. It is emphasized that momentum is a vector quantity, necessitating separate equations for the x and y components. The correct approach involves resolving the velocities into their respective components before applying the conservation of momentum. Understanding these vector components is crucial for determining the speed and direction of the combined mass after the collision.
aquirk
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Homework Statement


A car with a mass of 1680 kg is traveling directly northeast (45° between north and east) at a speed of 14 m/s (31 mph), and collides with a smaller car with a mass of 1300 kg that is traveling directly south at a speed of 13 m/s (29 mph). The two cars stick together during the collision. With what speed and direction does the tangled mess of metal move right after the collision?
Magnitude __________ m/s
Direction _________ degrees South of east


Homework Equations


m1v1i+m2v2i = v1(m1+m2)



The Attempt at a Solution


i tried plugging my values into this equation to figure out the answer but it doesn't seem to give me the right answer. I am thinking maybe I am doing it wrong becuase there is an angle involved but I am not sure.
 
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aquirk said:

Homework Statement


A car with a mass of 1680 kg is traveling directly northeast (45° between north and east) at a speed of 14 m/s (31 mph), and collides with a smaller car with a mass of 1300 kg that is traveling directly south at a speed of 13 m/s (29 mph). The two cars stick together during the collision. With what speed and direction does the tangled mess of metal move right after the collision?
Magnitude __________ m/s
Direction _________ degrees South of east


Homework Equations


m1v1i+m2v2i = v1(m1+m2)



The Attempt at a Solution


i tried plugging my values into this equation to figure out the answer but it doesn't seem to give me the right answer. I am thinking maybe I am doing it wrong becuase there is an angle involved but I am not sure.


You're on the right track using conservation of momentum, but you seem to have forgotten that momentum is a vector quantity and therefore you will have an equation for the x-components and an equation fro the y-components. So, yes you need to make use of the angle.
 
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