8
QuizMultiple Choice

Lab: Conservation of Linear Momentum — Unit test

Question 8 • [HSPHY] Physics Sem 1 (26-27)

A 225 kg red bumper car is moving at 3.0 m/s. It hits a stationary 180 kg blue bumper car. The red and blue bumper cars combine and hit a stationary green bumper car of mass 150 kg. The red, blue, and green bumper cars all combine.

Answer
A
0.93 m/s
B
1.2 m/s
C
1.7 m/s
D
2.7 m/s

Explanation

Momentum is conserved in both collisions, so the final combined cars have the same total momentum as the moving red car: 225 kg × 3.0 m/s = 675 kg·m/s. Their combined mass is 225 + 180 + 150 = 555 kg. The final speed is 675 ÷ 555 ≈ 1.2 m/s, so the correct choice is 1.2 m/s.

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