Bumper car A (281 kg) moving +2.82 m/s makes an elastic collision with bumper car B (209 kg) moving -1.72 m/s. what is the velocity of car A after the collision?

The velocity of car A after collision is -1.05 m/s.

The given parameters:

The velocity of car A after collision is determined by applying the principle of conservation of linear momentum;

Apply one - dimensional velocity;

Thus, the velocity of car A after collision is -1.05 m/s.

Learn more about conservation of linear momentum here: link

The final velocity of the car A is -1.053 m/s.

Explanation:

For an elastic collision both the kinetic energy and the momentum of the system are conserved.

Let us call

= mass of car A;

= the initial velocity of car A;

= the final velocity of car A;

and

= mass of car B;

= the initial velocity of car B;

= the final velocity of car B.

Then, the law of conservation of momentum demands that

And the conservation of kinetic energy says that

These two equations are solved for final velocities   and to give

by putting in the numerical values of the variables we get

and

Thus, the final velocity of the car A is -1.053 m/s and of car B is 3.49 m/s.