Question

Puck 1 (0.5 kg) travels with velocity 80 m/s to the right when it collides with puck 2 (2 kg) which is initially at rest. After the collision, puck 1 moves with a velocity of -16 m/s. Assume that no external forces are present and therefore the momentum for the system of pucks is conserved. What is the final velocity (in m/s) of puck 2 after the collision?

Answer 1

`v_2=24\ m/s`

Step-by-step explanation:

It is given that,

Mass of puck 1,
`m_1=0.5\ kg`

Mass of puck 2,
`m_2=2\ kg`

Initial speed of puck 1,
`u_1=80\ m/s`

Initial speed of puck 2,
`u_2=0\ m/s`

After the collision, the speed of puck 1,
`v_1=-16\ m/s`

Let
`v_2` is the final velocity (in m/s) of puck 2 after the collision. Using the conservation of momentum as :

`m_1u_1+m_2u_2=m_1v_1+m_2v_2`

`0.5* 80+2* 0=0.5* (-16)+2v_2`

`v_2=24\ m/s`

So, the final velocity of the puck 2 after the collision is 24 m/s. Hence, this is the required solution.