Question

A 1.0-kg block moving to the right at speed 3.0 m/s collides with an identical block also moving to the right at a speed 1.0 m/s. Both blocks stick together and move to the right. What is their speed after collision?

Answer 1

Speed of both blocks after collision is 2 m/s

Step-by-step explanation:

It is given that,

Mass of both blocks, m₁ = m₂ = 1 kg

Velocity of first block, u₁ = 3 m/s

Velocity of other block, u₂ = 1 m/s

Since, both blocks stick after collision. So, it is a case of inelastic collision. The momentum remains conserved while the kinetic energy energy gets reduced after the collision. Let v is the common velocity of both blocks. Using the conservation of momentum as :

`m_1u_1+m_2u_2=(m_1+m_2)v`

`v=(m_1u_1+m_2u_2)/((m_1+m_2))`

`v=(1\ kg* 3\ m/s+1\ kg* 1\ m/s)/(2\ kg)`

v = 2 m/s

Hence, their speed after collision is 2 m/s.