Two cars collide with each other. Before the collision, one car (m = 1100 kg)

is going north at 18 m/s and the other car (m = 1300 kg) is going south at 16

m/s. What is the momentum of the system made up of the two cars after the

collision?

A. 40,600 kg•m/s north

B. 1000 kg•m/s south

C. 40,600 kg. m/s south

D. 1000 kg•m/s north

Answer: B

Explanation:

In collision, whether elastic or inelastic collisions, momentum is always conserved. That is, the momentum before collision will be equal to the momentum after collision.

Since momentum is a vector quantity, the direction will also be considered.

Momentum = MV - mU

Let

M = 1100 kg is going north

at V = 18 m/s and the other car

m = 1300 kg is going south

at U = 16m/s.

Substitute all the parameters into the formula

Momentum = (1100 * 18) - (1300 * 16)

= 19800 - 20800

= - 1000

It's due south since the final answer is negative.

= 1000 kgm/s due south.

Therefore, the momentum of the system of the two cars after the

collision is 1000 kgm/s due south