Solving for the Velocity of the Combined Tanker

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 123 views

Introduction

In the realm of physics, collisions between objects are a fundamental concept that helps us understand the behavior of matter and energy. When two objects collide, they transfer momentum to each other, resulting in a change in their motion. In this article, we will explore a military tanker collision scenario, where two tankers of different masses and velocities collide head-on. We will apply the principles of conservation of momentum to determine the velocity of the combined tanker after the collision.

The Collision Scenario

A military tanker of mass $a$ tonnes is moving at a velocity of $12 \, \text{ms}^{-1}$ when it collides head-on with another tanker of mass $3a$ tonnes moving at a velocity of $20 \, \text{ms}^{-1}$ . After the collision, the two tankers stick together and move as one body. Our goal is to find the velocity of the combined tanker after the collision.

Conservation of Momentum

The principle of conservation of momentum states that the total momentum of a closed system remains constant over time. In this scenario, the two tankers are the closed system, and their total momentum before the collision is equal to their total momentum after the collision.

Let's denote the velocity of the combined tanker after the collision as $v$ . The momentum of the first tanker before the collision is given by:

p_1 = m_1 \times v_1 = a \times 12 \, \text{ms}^{-1}

The momentum of the second tanker before the collision is given by:

p_2 = m_2 \times v_2 = 3a \times 20 \, \text{ms}^{-1}

The total momentum of the two tankers before the collision is the sum of their individual momenta:

p_{\text{total}} = p_1 + p_2 = a \times 12 \, \text{ms}^{-1} + 3a \times 20 \, \text{ms}^{-1}

After the collision, the two tankers stick together and move as one body. The total momentum of the combined tanker is given by:

p_{\text{total}} = (m_1 + m_2) \times v = (a + 3a) \times v = 4a \times v

Since the total momentum of the system remains constant, we can set up the following equation:

a \times 12 \, \text{ms}^{-1} + 3a \times 20 \, \text{ms}^{-1} = 4a \times v

Solving for the Velocity of the Combined Tanker

Now that we have set up the equation, we can solve for the velocity of the combined tanker. Let's simplify the equation by combining like terms:

12a + 60a = 4av

72a = 4av

Divide both sides by $4a$ :

v = \frac{72a}{4a}

v = 18 \, \text{ms}^{-1}

Therefore, the velocity of the combined tanker after the collision is $18 \, \text{ms}^{-1}$ .

Conclusion

In this article, we applied the principles of conservation of momentum to a military tanker collision scenario. We determined the velocity of the combined tanker after the collision by setting up an equation based on the conservation of momentum. The result shows that the velocity of the combined tanker is $18 \, \text{ms}^{-1}$ . This example illustrates the importance of understanding the principles of physics in real-world scenarios.

Real-World Applications

The concept of conservation of momentum has numerous real-world applications in fields such as engineering, physics, and materials science. For instance, in the design of safety features for vehicles, understanding the principles of momentum can help engineers create more effective crash tests and safety protocols. Additionally, in the field of materials science, the concept of momentum is essential in understanding the behavior of materials under different types of stress and strain.

Limitations and Future Work

While this article provides a basic understanding of the principles of conservation of momentum, there are several limitations and areas for future work. For instance, in real-world collisions, there are often external factors such as friction and air resistance that can affect the motion of the objects involved. Additionally, the concept of momentum is not limited to collisions between objects; it can also be applied to other types of interactions, such as the motion of particles in a gas or the behavior of waves in a medium.

References

[1] Halliday, D., Resnick, R., & Walker, J. (2013). Fundamentals of Physics. John Wiley & Sons.
[2] Serway, R. A., & Jewett, J. W. (2018). Physics for Scientists and Engineers. Cengage Learning.

Appendix

The following is a list of equations and formulas used in this article:

Momentum: $p = m \times v$
Conservation of Momentum: $p_{\text{total}} = p_1 + p_2 = (m_1 + m_2) \times v$
Velocity of the Combined Tanker: $v = \frac{72a}{4a}$
A Military Tanker Collision: Q&A =====================================

Introduction

In our previous article, we explored a military tanker collision scenario and applied the principles of conservation of momentum to determine the velocity of the combined tanker after the collision. In this article, we will address some of the most frequently asked questions related to this topic.

Q: What is the principle of conservation of momentum?

A: The principle of conservation of momentum states that the total momentum of a closed system remains constant over time. In other words, the total momentum before a collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision.

Q: Why is conservation of momentum important in physics?

A: Conservation of momentum is a fundamental concept in physics that helps us understand the behavior of objects in motion. It is essential in predicting the outcome of collisions and other types of interactions between objects.

Q: What are some real-world applications of conservation of momentum?

A: Conservation of momentum has numerous real-world applications in fields such as engineering, physics, and materials science. For instance, in the design of safety features for vehicles, understanding the principles of momentum can help engineers create more effective crash tests and safety protocols.

Q: What are some limitations of the conservation of momentum principle?

A: While the conservation of momentum principle is a powerful tool for understanding the behavior of objects in motion, there are several limitations. For instance, in real-world collisions, there are often external factors such as friction and air resistance that can affect the motion of the objects involved.

Q: Can conservation of momentum be applied to other types of interactions?

A: Yes, conservation of momentum can be applied to other types of interactions, such as the motion of particles in a gas or the behavior of waves in a medium.

Q: How does the mass of the objects involved in a collision affect the outcome?

A: The mass of the objects involved in a collision affects the outcome by changing the momentum of the system. In general, the more massive the objects, the greater the momentum they possess.

Q: Can the velocity of the combined tanker be affected by external factors such as friction and air resistance?

A: Yes, the velocity of the combined tanker can be affected by external factors such as friction and air resistance. In real-world collisions, these factors can slow down the motion of the objects involved.

Q: What is the significance of the velocity of the combined tanker in a collision?

A: The velocity of the combined tanker is a critical factor in determining the outcome of a collision. In general, the higher the velocity of the combined tanker, the greater the damage it can cause.

Q: Can the principles of conservation of momentum be applied to other types of collisions?

A: Yes, the principles of conservation of momentum can be applied to other types of collisions, such as collisions between objects of different shapes and sizes.

Q: What are some common mistakes to avoid when applying the principles of conservation of momentum?

A: Some common mistakes to avoid when applying the principles of conservation of momentum include:

Failing to account for external factors such as friction and air resistance
Ignoring the mass of the objects involved in a collision
Failing to consider the shape and size of the objects involved in a collision

Conclusion

In this article, we addressed some of the most frequently asked questions related to the military tanker collision scenario and the principles of conservation of momentum. We hope that this Q&A article has provided a better understanding of this complex topic and its real-world applications.

References

[1] Halliday, D., Resnick, R., & Walker, J. (2013). Fundamentals of Physics. John Wiley & Sons.
[2] Serway, R. A., & Jewett, J. W. (2018). Physics for Scientists and Engineers. Cengage Learning.

Appendix

The following is a list of equations and formulas used in this article:

Momentum: $p = m \times v$
Conservation of Momentum: $p_{\text{total}} = p_1 + p_2 = (m_1 + m_2) \times v$
Velocity of the Combined Tanker: $v = \frac{72a}{4a}$