Question

A large blue marble of mass 3.5 g is moving to the right with a velocity of 15 cm/s. The large marble hits a small red marble of mass 1.2 g that is moving to the right with a velocity of 3.5 cm/s. After the collision, the blue marble moves to the right with a velocity of 5,5 cm/s.​

Answer 1

Explanation:

Let's solve the problem by using conservation of momentum:

m1 u1 + m2 u2 = m1 v1 + m2 v2

where:

m1 = 3.5 g  is the mass of the blue marble

m2= 1.2 g is the mass of the red marble

u1 = 15 cm/s  is the initial velocity of the blue marble

u2 = 3.5 cm/s is the initial velocity of the red marble

v1 = 5.5 cm/s is the final velocity of the blue marble

We can find the final velocity of the red marble by re-arranging the equation and solving for v2 :

v2 = 1/m²(m1 u1 + m2 u2 - m1 v1)=

=1/1.2(3.5×15+1.2×3.5−3.5×5.5 )=31cm/s