Question

A tractor of mass 5.0x10^3kg is used to tow a car of 2.5x10^3kg. the tractor moved with a speed of 3.0m/s just before the towing rope became taut.calculate the speed of the tractor immediately the rope becomes taut.

Answer 1

From the conservation of momentum:

$$Mv=(M+m)u$$

$$(5000)3=(5000+2500)u$$

$$u=2.0\frac{m}{s}$$