Question

During the time that the blocks are in contact, describe whether the center of mass of the two-block system is speeding up, slowing down, or staying the same. ____ Speeding up ____ Slowing down ____ Staying the same Briefly describe, in terms of a basic law of physics, whether the center of mass of the two-block system is speeding up, slowing down, or staying the same.

Answer 1

Answer:

The center of mass of the two-block system is staying the same and it can be explained with the help of linear momentum equation.

Explanation:

The center of mass of the two-block system is staying the same and it can be explained with the help of linear momentum equation.

Equation:

P=mv

This equation holds if no external force is acting on the system it means the momentum of the system is constant.

In our case, there is no external force which means the total momentum of system is constant:

P=constant

Total mass of system is also constant:

m=constant

It means the velocity of the system is constant (from above equation) thus center of mass of the two-block system is staying the same