Serway & Jewett — Linear Momentum and Collisions: Problem 14

Four railroad cars, each of mass \(2.50 \times 10^{4} \text{ kg}\), are coupled together and coasting along horizontal tracks at speed \(v_{i}\) toward the south. A very strong but foolish movie actor, riding on the second car, uncouples the front car and gives it a big push, increasing its speed to \(4.00 \text{ m/s}\) southward. The remaining three cars continue moving south, now at \(2.00 \text{ m/s}\). (a) Find the initial speed of the four cars. (b) By how much did the potential energy within the body of the actor change? (c) State the relationship between the process described here and the process in Problem 13.