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Capncanada
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Homework Statement
A 60-tonne (1 t = 1000 kg) spacecraft moving in the + x-direction at 0.70 m/s docks with a 65-tonne craft moving in the -x-direction at 0.64 m/s
Find the velocity of the joined spacecraft
Homework Equations
Conservationg of kinetic energy?
KE_i=KE_f
The Attempt at a Solution
I don't know if this is silly, but I tried solving for the velocity using kinetic energies of the separate space ships equalling the joined space ships:
1/2mv_1^2+1/2mv_2^2=1/2mv_3^2
1/2(60000kg)(0.70m/s)^2+1/2(65000kg)(0.64m/s)^2=(125000)v_3^2
14700+13312=62500v_3^2
v_3^2=0.4482
v_3=0.6695m/s