If a 2,000 kg automobile moving at 50 m/s collides with another 2,000 kg automobile at rest, how fast will they travel together post-collision?

To determine how fast the two automobiles will travel together after the collision, we can apply the principle of conservation of momentum. In a closed system, the total momentum before the collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision.

In this scenario, we have two automobiles, each with a mass of 2,000 kg. One automobile is moving at a speed of 50 m/s, while the other is stationary (0 m/s).

First, we calculate the total momentum before the collision. The momentum of the moving automobile can be calculated using the formula:

Momentum = mass × velocity

For the moving automobile:

• Momentum = 2,000 kg × 50 m/s = 100,000 kg·m/s

The stationary automobile has a momentum of:

• Momentum = 2,000 kg × 0 m/s = 0 kg·m/s

Thus, the total momentum before the collision is:

• Total momentum = 100,000 kg·m/s + 0 kg·m/s = 100,000 kg·m/s

After the collision, the two automobiles stick together and move as one combined mass. The total mass after the collision is:

• Combined mass = 2,000 kg +