A1000 kg car is moving down the highway with a velocity of 30.0 m/s when it bumps into the car ahead of it which has a mass of 800 kg and a velocity of 20.0 m/s. after the collision the two cars stick together.

1. what will be the resulting velocity of the two cars together after the collision

2. how much kinetic energy will be lost in this collision

Resulting velocity = 25.55 m/s

KE loss = 22.48 kJ

Explanation:

According to the principle of conservation of momentum when two objects interact the total momentum remains the same  provided no external forces are acting.

Assuming the above factors we can say that the momentum is preserved and both cars are stick together and get Vx velocity

linear momentum after collision = linear momentum before collision

                       (m1 + m2) * Vx   = m1 * V1 + m2*V2

                       (1000+800) * Vx   = 1000 * 30 + 800 * 20

                                               Vx  = 25.55 m/s