Question

a 2.99 kg sphere makes a perfectly inelastic collision with a second sphere that is intially at rest. the composite moves with a speed equal to one third the original speed of the 2.99kg. what is the mass of the second sphere?​

Answer 1

Answer:

5.98 kg

Explanation:

To solve this problem, let use the Linear Momentum Conservation Law:

Before collision: $\sum p=p_{1}+p_{2}=m_{1}v_{1}+m_{2}v_{2}=(2.99v_{1})+0=2.99v_{1}$

After collision: $\sum p'=p_{1}'+p_{2}'=(2.99+m_{2})(v_{1}/3)$

So, we obtain:

$\sum p =\sum p' \rightarrow 2.99v_{1}=(2.99+m_{2})(v_{1}/3) \rightarrow 8.97 = 2.99 + m_{2}$

$m_{2}=8.97-2.99=5.98 kg$