A 225 kg red bumper car is moving at 3.0 m/s. It hits a stationary 180 kg blue bumper car. The red and blue bumper cars combine

Answer: B. 1.2 m/s

Explanation:

Initially, we will calculate the velocity at which the red and blue cars move when they merge post-initial collision.

Utilizing the principle of momentum conservation,

Initial momentum = final momentum

Mass of red Car, Mr = 225 kg

Mass of blue car, Mb = 180 kg

Mass of green car, Mg = 150 kg

Initial velocity of red car, Ur = 3.0 m/s

Initial velocity of blue car, Ub = 0

Initial velocity of green car, Ug = 0

Collision 1:

Mr Ur + Mb Ub = (Mr+Mb) V

where V stands for the final velocity after merging of the red and blue cars.

225 × 3 + 0 = (225 + 180 ) V

⇒ V = 675/ 405 = 1.67 kg.m/s

Collision 2:

These two cars collide with the green car. Let's denote the final velocity of all three cars combined after the collision as V'.

(Mr+Mb) V + Mg Ug = (Mr+Mb+Mg) V'

675 + 0 = 555 V'

⇒V' = 1.2 m/s

Therefore, the correct choice is B.

Given

m1(mass of red bumper): 225 Kg

m2 (mass of blue bumper): 180 Kg

m3(mass of green bumper): 150 Kg

v1 (velocity of red bumper): 3.0 m/s

v2 (final velocity of the combined bumpers):?

The principle of momentum conservation indicates that the momentum before impacts equals the momentum after impacts. This can be represented mathematically as:

Pa= Pb

Pa symbolizes the momentum prior to collision and Pb refers to momentum after collision.

Applying this principle to the aforementioned scenario results in:

Momentum pre-collision= momentum post-collision.

Momentum pre-collision = (m1+m2) x v1 =(225+180)x 3 = 1215 Kgm/s

Momentum post-collision = (m1+m2+m3) x v2 =(225+180+150)x v2

=555v2

We now know that Momentum pre-collision equals momentum post-collision.

1215 = 555 v2

v2 = 2.188 m/s

Consequently, the final velocity of the combined bumper cars is 2.188 m/s