Question

A 350-g air track cart is traveling at 1.25 m/s and a 280-g cart traveling in the opposite direction at 1.33 m/s. What is the speed of the center of mass of the two carts?

Answer 1

The speed of the center of mass of the two carts is 0.103 m/s

Step-by-step explanation:

It is given that,

Mass of the air track cart, m₁ = 350 g = 0.35 kg

Velocity of air track cart, v₁ = 1.25 m/s

Mass of cart, m₂ = 280 g = 0.28 kg

Velocity of cart, v₂ = -1.33 m/s (it is travelling in opposite direction)

We need to find the speed of the center of mass of the two carts. It is given by the following relation as :

`v_(cm)=(m_1v_1+m_2v_2)/(m_1+m_2)`

`v_(cm)=(0.35\ kg* 1.25\ m/s+0.28\ kg* (-1.33\ m/s))/(0.35\ kg+0.28\ kg)`

`v_(cm)=0.103\ m/s`

Hence, this is the required solution.