Answer:
The final velocity of the train and the moose after collision is approximately 19.51 m/s
Explanation:
The given mass of the moose, m₁ = 250 kg
The velocity of the moose, v₁ = 0
The mass of the oncoming train, m₂ = 10,000 kg
The velocity of the train, v₂ = 20 m/s
The velocity of the moose and the train after collision = v₃
By the principle of conservation of linear momentum, the total initial momentum before the collision = The total final momentum after collision
m₁·v₁ + m₂·v₂ = (m₁ + m₂)·v₃
Therefore, by substitution, we have;
250×0 + 10,000× 20 = (10,000 + 250) × v₃
200,000 = 10,250 × v₃
v₃ = 200,000/10,250 ≈ 19.51 m/s
The final velocity of the train and the moose after collision = v₃ ≈ 19.51 m/s