Question

Two pop cans are at rest on a stand. A firecracker is placed between the cans and lit. The firecracker explodes and exerts equal and opposite forces on the two cans. Assuming the system of two cans to be isolated, the post-explosion momentum of the system ____.
a. is dependent upon the mass and velocities of the two cans
b. is dependent upon the velocities of the two cans (but not their mass)
c. is typically a very large value
d. can be a positive, negative or zero value
e. is definitely zero

Answer 1

Answer:

e. is definitely zero

Explanation:

Given that

At initial condition the speed of the pop cans is zero.

We know that linear momentum

P = Mass x velocity

P =  m v

At initial condition v = 0

P= 0

If there is no any external force then the linear momentum of the system will be conserve.And given that ,consider the system isolated.

Therefore the answer is e.