# Momentum Quiestion

1. Jan 30, 2005

### Garvage

Two cars collide at an intersection. The first car has a mass of 925kg and was travelling north. The second car has a mass of 1075kg and was travelling west. Immediatly after impact, the first car had a velocity of 52km/hr, 310deg, and the second car had a velocity of 40km/hr, 320deg. What was the speed of each car prior to the collision?

Ok.
Is there a velocity formula I can use? One In terms ov V and M?

2. Jan 30, 2005

### Garvage

I think these are the formulas, but i'm not sure.

$$V_{1}=\left(\begin{array}(\underline{(M_{1}+M_{2})}\\(M_{1}-M_{2})\end{array}\right)V_{1}'$$

$$V_{2}=\left(\begin{array}({(2M_{1})}\\\overline{(M_{1}-M_{2})}\end{array}\right)V_{2}'$$

Can anyone help?

3. Jan 30, 2005

### christinono

Yes, those equations are right.

4. Jan 30, 2005

### Garvage

What about getting the right directions? When I use those equations the velocity comes out to be negative. Do I just switch the direction?

5. Jan 30, 2005

### christinono

Correction:
This formula only applies when a moving ball (A) collides with a stationary ball (B). In this case, you can't use this equation. Rather, you have to use conservation of linear momentum (break down into horiz and vert components). The final and initial horizontal momentum is always conserved. The same goes for the vertical momentum.

6. Jan 30, 2005

### Garvage

So, after I break up the V1' and V2' velocities into horizontal and vertical vectors, can I solve for all four using those formulas? Aslo, what do I do about the velocities being negative since $$M_{1}-M_{2}$$ is negative?

7. Jan 30, 2005

### christinono

I don't think you can use those formulae at all, since both masses are moving initially. As far as negative velocities, they simply mean the mass is travelling in a negative direction (this can be anywhere, since it depends what you define as the "positive" direction).

8. Jan 30, 2005

### Garvage

Well, that's not good news. Are there any formulae I can use?

9. Jan 30, 2005

### christinono

As far as I know, only

$$Momentum_{horiz/initial}=Momentum_{hor/final}$$

and

$$Momentum_{vert/initial}=Momentum_{vert/final}$$

The only problem is, it seems you're missing one piece of information reguarding the initial speeds.

10. Jan 30, 2005

### Garvage

Yeah, what Im missing is what it's asking me to find.

11. Jan 30, 2005

### christinono

Oh yeah, I read the question again, and you do have enough info. Do you understand how to solve it now?