This originally had me completely befuddled, but I think I got it. Problem is, there is no way to "justify" my results, since I got to a certain point and simply used the "Guess and Check" method. I think I have a decent explanation and proof. Could someone check it for me? Here's the orignal problem:
One car has twice the mass of a second car, but only half as much KE. When both cars increase their speed by 6.0 m/s, they then have the same KE. What were the original speeds of the two cars?
Point where I got: (Initial Vi1 + 6)^2 = 2 (Initial Vi2 + 6)^2
This is what I tried from this point: I graphed each of them as
y = (x + 6)^2
y = 2(x+6)^2
I got to a point where at x = -6, y = 0 for both. Using this "explanation", I said V1 - V2 = 6.
Then, using guess and check with V1 - V2 = 6, I got approximately V1 Initial = 14.4775, V2 Initial= 8.4775
Is there a way to get the answers I got without using the guess and check method?
PLEASE HELP!!!
2006-08-31
03:56:33
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4 answers
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asked by
Moosehead
2