Question

Two air track carts move along an air track towards each other. Cart A has a mass of 450 g and moves toward the right with a speed of 0.850 m/s and air track cart B has a mass of 300 g and moves toward the left with a speed of 1.12 m/s. What is the total momentum of the system

Answer 1

Answer:

0.465 kgm/s

Explanation:

Given that

Mass of the cart A, m1 = 450 g

Speed of the cart A, v1 = 0.85 m/s

Mass of the cart B, m2 = 300 g

Speed of the cart B, v2 = 1.12 m/s

Now, using the law of conservation of momentum.

It is worthy of note that our cart B is moving in opposite directions to A

m1v1 + m2v2 =

(450 * 0.85) - (300 * 1.12) =

382.5 - 336 =

46.5 gm/s

If we convert to kg, we have

46.5 / 100 = 0.465 kgm/s

Thus, the total momentum of the system is 0.465 kgm/s