What is the final velocity of a second vehicle after an elastic collision if a truck weighing 1000 N moves at 5.89 m/s and the second vehicle is stationary?

To find the final velocity of the second vehicle after an elastic collision, we can apply the principles of conservation of momentum and kinetic energy, which are both conserved in elastic collisions.

Since the truck is the only vehicle moving initially and is colliding with a stationary vehicle, the initial momentum of the system is purely due to the truck. The weight of the truck is given as 1000 N, and knowing that weight (W) is related to mass (m) and gravitational acceleration (g ≈ 9.81 m/s²), we can find the mass of the truck:

[

m_{\text{truck}} = \frac{1000 \text{ N}}{9.81 \text{ m/s}^2} \approx 101.93 \text{ kg}

]

With the velocity of the truck being 5.89 m/s, we first calculate its initial momentum:

[

p_{\text{initial}} = m_{\text{truck}} \cdot v_{\text{truck}} = 101.93 \text{ kg} \cdot 5.89 \text{ m/s} \approx 600.4 \text{ kg m/s}

]

For a