Two trains approach one another along perpendicular directions, both traveling at a speed of c/2 as measured by an earth-bound observer, as shown. Assume both trains have the same rest mass m. Earth Frame in | c/2 west train (a) Imagine you put yourself on the north train. From this point of reference, how fast does the west train appear to be approaching? (b) The two trains are headed for an inevitable collision at the point marked by the red X. Assume the two trains stick together in a crumpled mess of mass M upon colliding with one another. After the collision (and measured in the Earth frame), (i) Along what angle 0 will the joined pair of collided trains travel? [Hint: momentum must be conserved along both the horizontal and vertical directions] (ii) What will be the total momentum pfinal Of the collided trains, post-collision?

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Two trains approach one another along perpendicular directions, both traveling at a speed of c/2 as measured
by an earth-bound observer, as shown. Assume both trains have the same rest mass m.
Earth Frame
I c/2
west train
(a) Imagine you put yourself on the north train. From this point of reference, how fast does the west train
appear to be approaching?
(b) The two trains are headed for an inevitable collision at the point marked by the red X. Assume the two
trains stick together in a crumpled mess of mass M upon colliding with one another. After the collision
(and measured in the Earth frame),
(i)
long what angle 0 will the
hed pair of collided trains travel?
[Hint: momentum must be conserved along both the horizontal and vertical directions]
(ii) What will be the total momentum pfinal Oof the collided trains, post-collision?
(iii) Determine the mass M of the collided trains.
[Hint: try writing E
Pmc2 + M²c4 You should find that M + 2m.]
final
"final
(iv) How fast will the joined trains travel?
Transcribed Image Text:Two trains approach one another along perpendicular directions, both traveling at a speed of c/2 as measured by an earth-bound observer, as shown. Assume both trains have the same rest mass m. Earth Frame I c/2 west train (a) Imagine you put yourself on the north train. From this point of reference, how fast does the west train appear to be approaching? (b) The two trains are headed for an inevitable collision at the point marked by the red X. Assume the two trains stick together in a crumpled mess of mass M upon colliding with one another. After the collision (and measured in the Earth frame), (i) long what angle 0 will the hed pair of collided trains travel? [Hint: momentum must be conserved along both the horizontal and vertical directions] (ii) What will be the total momentum pfinal Oof the collided trains, post-collision? (iii) Determine the mass M of the collided trains. [Hint: try writing E Pmc2 + M²c4 You should find that M + 2m.] final "final (iv) How fast will the joined trains travel?
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