The cars collide, latch together and move off to the right. As the two boxcars move off to the right, a third boxcar with the same mass and initial velocity of 2.5 m/s enters from the left. It catches up to, collides with and latches onto the first two cars. Then a fourth car (with the same mass and initial velocity) enters, collides and latches, and finally a fifth (again with the same mass and initial velocity). Eventually, five identical boxcars are latched together and moving off to the right.
A flat, horizontal, frictionless railroad track has two boxcars on it. Both boxcars have masses of 12,000 kg. The boxcar on the right is initially stationary, and the boxcar on the left has a velocity of 2.5 m/s to the right. The cars collide, latch together and move off to the right. As the two boxcars move off to the right, a third boxcar with the same mass and initial velocity of 2.5 m/s enters from the left. It catches up to, collides with and latches onto the first two cars. Then a fourth car (with the same mass and initial velocity) enters, collides and latches, and finally a fifth (again with the same mass and initial velocity). Eventually, five identical boxcars are latched together and moving off to the right.
What is the velocity of the five boxcars after they have all collided and latched together? Please answer in units of m/s.
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