Distance traveled during a head on collision

[NickAtNight]

It would help if we could get him to write the two equations.
To list the number of unknowns
To determine if there are enough equations to solve for the unknowns
To rearrange the equations to solve for the unknowns

Then to give the results for the three conditions 1) fully elastic. 2) inelastic 3) partially elastic.

Then to answer the question two ways. 1) for what was asked - distance travelled. Which is not knowable since no stopping forces were provided.

2) for what they probably wanted to ask - vehicle velocities.

 

[haruspex]

It would help if we could get him to write the two equations.
To list the number of unknowns
To determine if there are enough equations to solve for the unknowns
To rearrange the equations to solve for the unknowns

Then to give the results for the three conditions 1) fully elastic. 2) inelastic 3) partially elastic.

Then to answer the question two ways. 1) for what was asked - distance travelled. Which is not knowable since no stopping forces were provided.

2) for what they probably wanted to ask - vehicle velocities.

No progress can be made at all until we are clear what is meant by the distance a vehicle travels during a collision. See post #25.