Question

A 0.50-kg red cart is moving rightward with a speed of 50 cm/s when it collides with a 0.50-kg blue cart that is initially at rest. After the collision, the blue cart begins moving rightward with a speed of 40 cm/s. The red cart is still moving rightward but has slowed down to a speed of 10 cm/s. Enter the momentum values (in kg•cm/s) of each individual cart and of the system of two carts before and after the collision. Also indicate the change in momentum of each cart.

Answer 1

Explanation:

Step one:

given data

mass of red cart m1=0.5kg

initial velocity u1 of red cart=50cm/s

mass of blue cart m2=0.5kg

initial velocity u2 of blue cart= 0cm/s

final velocity v2 of blue cart= 40cm/s

final velocity v1 of red cart= 10cm/s

Step two:

Momentum values red cart before and after the collision.

Before collision

P1=m1u1

P1=0.5*50

P1=25kg•cm/s

After collision

P2=m1v1

P2=0.5*10

P2=5kg•cm/s

Change in momentum= P1-P2=25-5= 20kg•cm/s

Momentum values blue cart before and after the collision.

Before collision

P1=m1u1

P1=0.5*0

P1=0 kg•cm/s

After collision

P2=m1v1

P2=0.5*40

P2=20kg•cm/s

Change in momentum= P1-P2=0-20= -20kg•cm/s