SOLUTION: A tractor of mass 5*10^3kg is used to Low a car of mass 2.5*10^3kg. The tractor moved with a speed of 3.0m/sec just before the towing rope becomes taut. Calculate speed of the tra

Algebra ->  Formulas -> SOLUTION: A tractor of mass 5*10^3kg is used to Low a car of mass 2.5*10^3kg. The tractor moved with a speed of 3.0m/sec just before the towing rope becomes taut. Calculate speed of the tra      Log On


   

Question 1063626: A tractor of mass 5*10^3kg is used to Low a car of mass 2.5*10^3kg. The tractor moved with a speed of 3.0m/sec just before the towing rope becomes taut. Calculate speed of the tractor immediately the rope become taut.
Answer by ikleyn(52788) About Me  (Show Source):
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A tractor of mass 5*10^3kg is used to Low a car of mass 2.5*10^3kg. The tractor moved with a speed of 3.0m/sec just before
the towing rope becomes taut. Calculate speed of the tractor immediately the rope become taut.
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Apply the Momentum conservation Law.


Initially you have two bodies  with the masses m%5B1%5D and m%5B2%5D with the given velocities 3 m/sec and 0 (zer0) m/sec, respectively.


After the towing rope became taut, the two bodies move as one single body of the mass m = m%5B1%5D+%2B+m%5B2%5D with the unknown velocity v.


The  Momentum conservation Law  says 


m%5B1%5D%2Av%5B1%5D+%2B+m%5B2%5D%2Av%5B2%5D = %28m%5B1%5D%2Bm%5B2%5D%29%2Av.


It is your equation for "v".  Solve it for "v".