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The final velocity after collision in x-direction is the resulting velocity of an object after a collision along the horizontal axis. It describes the motion of vehicles or objects following an impact, calculated using the principle of conservation of momentum.
The calculator uses the momentum conservation formula:
Where:
Explanation: This formula applies the principle of conservation of momentum, where the total momentum before collision equals the total momentum after collision in the x-direction.
Details: Understanding momentum conservation is crucial for analyzing vehicle collisions, accident reconstruction, and predicting post-collision motion. It helps determine the resulting velocities and directions of vehicles involved in impacts.
Tips: Enter the total momentum in x-direction after collision in kg·m/s and the total mass of colliding vehicles in kg. Both values must be positive numbers greater than zero.
Q1: What is momentum conservation?
A: Momentum conservation states that the total momentum of a closed system remains constant if no external forces act on it, making it fundamental in collision analysis.
Q2: Does this formula work for elastic and inelastic collisions?
A: Yes, the momentum conservation principle applies to both elastic and inelastic collisions, though energy conservation differs between the two types.
Q3: What units should I use for input values?
A: Use kilograms (kg) for mass and kilogram-meters per second (kg·m/s) for momentum to get velocity in meters per second (m/s).
Q4: Can this be used for multi-vehicle collisions?
A: Yes, the formula works for any number of vehicles as long as you use the total momentum and total mass of all colliding vehicles.
Q5: What about the y-direction velocity?
A: The same principle applies separately for the y-direction using \( V_{fy} = \frac{P_{totfy}}{M_{total}} \), where \( P_{totfy} \) is the total momentum in y-direction.