Solving a Physics 30 Question: Car & Truck Collision

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To solve the physics problem of a car and truck collision, momentum conservation must be applied along both the x and y axes. The car, weighing 1400kg and traveling at 50km/h west, collides with a 2000kg truck moving at 40km/h north. The initial and final momenta should be calculated, considering that the total mass after an inelastic collision is the sum of both vehicles. It's important to note that while kinetic energy is not conserved in inelastic collisions, momentum is conserved. Following these steps will lead to determining the initial common velocity after the collision.
sadaf.10
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hi i am doing physics 30 by modules after doing it by class. and i am having a hard time working this question out.

A car with a mass of 1400kg is westbound at 50km/h. it collides at an intersection with a northbound truck having a mass of 2000kg and traveling at 40km/h. what is the inital common velocity of the car and truck immediatley after the collision if they have an inelastic collision?

i did all my conversions but i just can't figure out the proper steps in receiving the answer.
 
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Momentum should be conservered along both the x and y axes. Write some eqns to express the momenta before and after the collision--the mass of the car/truck is just the sum of the two individually.
 
so i don't really have to worry about the inelastic collision.
because i was stuck on that part.
just go along with finding the inital momentum and final and go from there?
 
Inelastic collisions only effect the conservation of kinetic energy, not momentum.
 
sadaf.10 said:
just go along with finding the inital momentum and final and go from there?
Yes.
 

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