Question

A 3.0-kg object moves to the right with a speed of 2.0 m/s. It collides in a perfectly elastic collision with a 6.0-kg object moving to the left at 1.0 m/s. What is the total kinetic energy after the collision?

Answer 1

The kinetic energy of the system after the collision is 9 J.

Step-by-step explanation:

It is given that,

Mass of object 1, m₁ = 3 kg

Speed of object 1, v₁ = 2 m/s

Mass of object 2, m₂ = 6 kg

Speed of object 2, v₂ = -1 m/s (it is moving in left)

Since, the collision is elastic. The kinetic energy of the system before the collision is equal to the kinetic energy of the system after the collision. Let it is E. So,

`E=(1)/(2)m_1v_1^2+(1)/(2)m_2v_1^2`

`E=(1)/(2)* 3\ kg* (2\ m/s)^2+(1)/(2)* 6\ kg* (-1\ m/s)^2`

E = 9 J

So, the kinetic energy of the system after the collision is 9 J. Hence, this is the required solution.