Trolley A (3 kg) at 5 m/s hits trolley B (2 kg) at rest.
Contributed by StemPy LabTry it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
Trolley A () at hits trolley B () at rest. Afterwards A keeps going forward at ; they do not stick.
- What is the total momentum before?
- What is B's velocity after?
Need a reminder? The key ideaShow
With no outside force, the total momentum of a group of objects stays the same: . Give opposite directions opposite signs. Things that start at rest end with equal and opposite momenta.
The worked solution
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. (a) .
Step 2. (b) , so forward.
Answer: ; .
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