Answer:
The velocity of the first block is 1.15m/s while of the second block 2.56m/s.
Explanation:
Momentum is only conserved in an isolated system, and because this problem requires us to find the value of the two variables, we need two equations; therefore, to conserved momentum the energy must be released in to the system only after the collision has occurred.
Therefore, from conservation of momentum
and from conservation of energy
Thus, we have two equations and two unknowns
which has solutions
and
Since the blocks cannot pass through each other, the 0.5kg block cannot have (moves to the left) while the 0.4 kg block has
(moves to the right); therefore, we take the first solution for the velocities:
.
Thus , the velocity of the first block is 1.15m/s while of the second block 2.56m/s.