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A railroad car of 2000 kg coasting at 3.0 m/s overtakes and locks together with an identical car coasting on the same track in the same direction at 2.0 m/s. What is the speed of the cars after they lock together.



Answer :

Both cars are canceling out the energy of each other. The energy that is left over because one car has a bigger kinetic energy is the energy that is going to move BOTH the cars.

First Car : 0.5 * 2000kg * 3m/s^2 = 10.24 KJ

Second Car : 0.5 * 2000kg * 2m/s^2 = 4 KJ

Leftover Energy : 10.24 KJ - 4 KJ = 6.24 KJ

Movement of BOTH cars :
6.24 = 4000kg * v^2
v =  √(6.24 / 4000) =0.04 m/s = 4 cm/s