Answer:
2.087 kg
Explanation:
From the law of conservation of momentum,
Total momentum before collision = total momentum after collision.
MU + mu = V(M+m)............................ Equation 1
Where M = mass of the cart, m = mass of the brick, U = initial velocity of the cart, u = initial velocity of the brick, V = velocity of both cart and brick after collision.
Note: The initial velocity of the brick is zero Thus mu = 0
making m the subject of the equation,
m =(MU/V)-M ........................................ Equation 2
Given: M = 2.6 kg, U = 28.2 cm/s = 0.283 m/s, V = 15.7 cm/s = 0.157 m/s.
Substituting into equation 2,
m = (2.6×0.283/0.157)-2.6
m = 2.087 kg
Thus the mass of the brick = 2.087 kg
