Opent top freight train with coal

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the physics of a freight car moving along a frictionless level railroad track when a large load of coal is dumped into it. According to the conservation of momentum principle, the initial momentum of the freight car (m1v1) must equal the final momentum (m2v2) after the coal is added. Since the mass of the freight car increases (m2 > m1), the velocity of the car must decrease as a result of the added mass.

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Question 3 text A freight car moves along a frictionless level railroad track at constant speed. The car is open on top. A large load of coal is suddenly dumped into the car. What happens to the velocity of the car?
Question 3 answers
It increases.
It remains the same.
It decreases. <-----
cannot be determined from the information given
 
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Looks good to me. Use conservation of momentum to confirm.

[tex]m_1v_1 = m_2v_2[/tex]

m2 is greater than m1 therefore v has to decrease.
 

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