Question

A 2.0-kg cart collides with a 1.0-kg cart that is initially at rest on a low-friction track. After the collision, the 1.0-kg cart moves to the right at 0.50 m/s and the 2.0-kg cart moves to the right at 0.25 m/s . If the positive direction is to the right, what was the initial velocity of the 2.0-kg cart?

Answer 1

Answer:

Initial velocity of first cart will be 0.5 m /sec

Explanation:

We have given mass of the cart $m_1=2kg$

Its collides with other cart of mass $m_2=1kg$

Let the initial velocity of cart 1 is $v_{1i}$

As the car 2 is initially at rest so $v_{2i}$ = 0 m/sec

After the collision velocity of first cart is 0.25 m/sec

So $v_{1f}$ = 0.25 m/sec and velocity of second cart is 0.50 m /sec

So $v_{2f}$ = 0.5 m/sec

From conservation of momentum we know that

$m_1v_{1i}+m_2v_{2i}=m_1v_{1f}+m_2v_{2f}$

$2\times v_{1i}+1\times 0=2\times 0.25+1\times 0.5$

$v_{1i}$ = 0.5 m /sec

So initial velocity of first cart will be 0.5 m /sec