Two identical freight cars roll without friction (one at 1 m/s, the other at 2 m/s) toward one another on a level track. They collide, couple together, and roll away in the direction that

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The direction after the collision depends on the momentum of the cars. Since both cars are identical but one has a higher velocity (2 m/s), it has more momentum. Therefore, after colliding and coupling together, they will move in the direction of the faster car, as it contributes more to the total momentum of the system.

Two Identical Freight Cars Roll Without Friction (One at 1