A railroad car of mass M moving at a speed v1 collides and couples with two coupled railroad cars, each of the same mass M and moving in the same direction at a speed v2. (a) What is the speed vf of the three coupled cars after the collision in terms of v1 and v2

vf = v₁/3 + 2v₂/3

Explanation:

Using the law of conservation of linear momentum,

momentum before impact = momentum after impact

So, Mv₁ + 2Mv₂ = 3Mv (since the railroad cars combine) where v₁ = initial velocity of first railroad car, v₂ = initial velocity of the other two coupled railroad cars, and vf = final velocity of the three railroad cars after impact.

Mv₁ + 2Mv₂ = 3Mvf

dividing through by 3M, we have

v₁/3 + 2v₂/3 = vf

vf = v₁/3 + 2v₂/3

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