Calculating Thermal Energy from a Head-On Collision

[crisicola]

I've got a question on thermal energy:

Two railroad cars, each of mass 6500 kg and traveling 86 km/h, collide head-on and come to rest. How much thermal energy is produced in this collision?

Converted 86 km/h to m/s = 2.389 m/s
I assumed that KE converted all into thermal energy:
KE = 1/2 mv^2, but it doesn't turn out right.

Thank you beforehand for any help!

 

[Tide]

Check your conversion. Also, did you include the kinetic energy of both cars?

 

[quicknote]

I would like to clarify that thermal energy is not the only form of energy involved in a head-on collision. In this scenario, there will also be kinetic energy, potential energy, and possibly sound energy involved. The conversion of kinetic energy into thermal energy is not always 100% efficient, so it is not accurate to assume that all of the kinetic energy is converted into thermal energy.

To accurately calculate the thermal energy produced in this collision, we would need to know the specific heat capacity of the materials involved and the efficiency of the energy conversion process. Without this information, it is not possible to provide an accurate answer.

Additionally, it is important to note that in a real-world scenario, there are many other factors that could affect the amount of thermal energy produced, such as friction and deformation of the materials involved. Therefore, it is not possible to provide a precise answer without more information and taking into account all of these factors.

In conclusion, while it is possible to calculate the kinetic energy involved in this head-on collision, it is not accurate to assume that all of it will be converted into thermal energy. To accurately determine the amount of thermal energy produced, we would need more information and consider all of the factors involved in the collision.