How Do You Calculate Final Velocity in Inelastic Collisions? | Trains Colliding | Linear Momentum

The classic physics problem of two train cars running into each other... Take a look at the conservation of linear momentum and loss of kinetic energy in an inelastic collision. Calculate the final velocity of two colliding objects. We will do this by applying Newton's laws to see that linear momentum is conserved in an inelastic collision but mechanical energy is lost in this type of collision.

This problem typically comes up in high school and introductory college physics courses as as a part of linear momentum. This problem can be found in AP Physics as well as on the JEE exam.

[tsehonebe]

The way you explain is easy. U are agood teacher thank u very much🥳

[TomDoingItWrong]

Greetings! I am a retired railroad locomotive engineer working very part-time as a Paralegal/Investigator for a personal injury law firm representing injured railroad workers. A lot of what I do now involves trying to determine momentum and speeds between a starting point, and an end point that might be a collision point or point where the injury occurred. There are numerous variables involved, such as grade, tonnage, weather (temperature, precipitation, humidity, etc.), and frankly I am clueless when it comes to making those kinds of calculations. I can make guesses on what will happen based upon my personal experience gleaned over 30 years, but this isn't something I can personally put in front of a jury. Is there a way to contact you outside of YouTube to determine your or someone you might know who might be willing to make some calculations for us in a professional capacity? Thanks!

[hermanshim]

Does overcoming the friction of the locomotive at rest also contribute to loss of kinetic energy?

[gatlatwal]

Please help me calculate this
a car of mass m moving at a speed of v1 collides and couples with the back of a truck of mass 2m moving initially in the same direction as the car at a lower v2.

a) what is the vf of the two vehicles after collision?
b) what is the change in kinetic energy of the car_truck system in a collision?

[ryleenplayz]

Im a bit confused, how did you get 2m/s from 180000 = 90000 Vf. Im probably missing something here but would you mind explaining it again?

[jamiee]

what if the objects mass was decreasing? like a rocket unloading its fuel? how would you calculate this

[ayandaanita]

Please help!
Please explain how I would calculate the following: a car with mass *M* travels at a velocity of 20m.s‐1 est on a straight level road and a truck of a mass 2M travels at a 20m.s-1 west on tge same road .
Calculate the velocity of tge truck car system immediately after the collision

[chloenicolecachero]

Hello can you please make a problem sentence using the given in your video?