Answer:
(a) 1.21 m/s
(b) 2303.33 J, 152.27 J
Explanation:
m1 = 95 kg, u1 = - 3.750 m/s, m2 = 113 kg, u2 = 5.38 m/s
(a) Let their velocity after striking is v.
By use of conservation of momentum
Momentum before collision = momentum after collision
m1 x u1 + m2 x u2 = (m1 + m2) x v
- 95 x 3.75 + 113 x 5.38 = (95 + 113) x v
v = ( - 356.25 + 607.94) / 208 = 1.21 m /s
(b) Kinetic energy before collision = 1/2 m1 x u1^2 + 1/2 m2 x u2^2
= 0.5 ( 95 x 3.750 x 3.750 + 113 x 5.38 x 5.38)
= 0.5 (1335.94 + 3270.7) = 2303.33 J
Kinetic energy after collision = 1/2 (m1 + m2) v^2
= 0.5 (95 + 113) x 1.21 x 1.21 = 152.27 J
This leads to a paradox known as the Gibbs paradox, after Josiah Willard Gibbs. The paradox allows for the entropy of closed systems to decrease, violating the second law of thermodynamics. A related paradox is the "mixing paradox".
