Can I Calculate the Momentum of Two Colliding Cars?

[Addison]

If two cars collide going 50 meters/ second head on. Their velocity final was 20 meters per second. For 10 meters. Could i find the momentum?

 

[ShawnD]

I don't think you can but there's a lot that I don't know. It's easy to find the ratio of the masses though; maybe you can see a way to apply that and find the answer you are looking for.

conserve momentum:
before = after
50m1 - 50m2 = 20(m1 + m2)
50m1 - 50m2 = 20m1 + 20m2
30m1 = 70m2
m1 = (7/3)m2

 

[M98Ranger]

Yes, you could find the momentum of the two cars. Momentum is defined as the product of an object's mass and velocity, so you would need to know the mass of the two cars in order to calculate their momentum. From the information given, you would also need to know the time it took for the cars to travel the 10 meters in order to calculate their final velocity. With these values, you can use the formula for momentum (p = mv) to find the momentum of each car, and then add them together to find the total momentum of the system.