Question

a 0.25 kg arrow is moving at 5 m/s and hits a 0.10 kg apple. The apple sticks to the arrow, and both move to the right together. What is their velocity?

Answer 1

The arrow-apple combo will move with a velocity 3.6 m/s to the right.

Step-by-step explanation:

Use the law of conservation of momentum to solve this problem. In this case the law can be written as follows:

`m_(arrow)v_(arrow)+m_(apple)\cdot 0= (m_(arrow)+m_(apple))v_(both)`

from which the desired velocity can be isolated:

`(m_(arrow)v_(arrow))/(m_(arrow)+m_(apple))= v_(both)\\v_(both) = (0.25kg\cdot 5(m)/(s))/(0.35kg)=3.6(m)/(s)`

The arrow-apple combo will move with a velocity 3.6 m/s to the right.