PhysicsLAB: 2008 B1

Several students are riding in bumper cars at an amusement park. The combined mass of car A and its occupants is 250 kg. The combined mass of car B and its occupants is 200 kg. Car A is 15 m away from car B and moving to the right at 2.0 m/s, as shown, when the driver decides to bump into car B, which is at rest.

	(a) Car A accelerates at 1.5 m/s² to a speed of 5.0 m/s and then continues at constant velocity until it strikes car B. Calculate the total time for car A to travel the 15 m.

(b) After the collision, car B moves to the right at a speed of 4.8 m/s.

	i. Calculate the speed of car A after the collision.

	ii. Indicate the direction of motion of car A after the collision. ___ to the left ___ to the right ___ none, car A is at rest

	(c) Is this an elastic collision? Justify your answer.