Question

A 1.45 kg 1.45 kg falcon catches a 0.415 kg 0.415 kg dove from behind in midair. What is their velocity after impact if the falcon's velocity is initially 26.5 m/s 26.5 m/s and the dove's velocity is 4.35 m/s 4.35 m/s in the same direction?

Answer 1

Answer: The velocity is 21.5m/s

Explanation:

Let's call:

M1 and V1 as the mass and velocity of the falcon:

M1 = 1.45kg

V1 = 26.5m/s

M2 and V2 as the mass and velocity of the dove:

M2 = 0.415kg

V2 = 4.35m/s

Where both velocities are positive because both animals move in the same direction.

We can think that the interaction between both animals is a perfectly inelastic collision, because afther the interaction they move as one. Then, we have that the final velocity of both animals togheter is:

V = (V1*M1 + V2*M2)/(M1 + M2)

V = (1.45kg*26.5m/s + 0.415kg*4.35m/s)/(1.45kg + 0.415kg) = 21.5m/s