Question

A cart of mass m = 0.12 kg moves with a speed v = 0.45 m/s on a frictionless air track and collides with an identical cart that is stationary. The carts stick together after the collision. What is the final kinetic energy of the system?

Answer 1

0.006075Joules

Step-by-step explanation:

The final kinetic energy of the system is expressed as;

KE = 1/2(m1+m2)v²

m1 and m2 are the masses of the two bodies

v is the final velocity of the bodies after collision

get the final velocity using the law of conservation of momentum

m1u1 + m2u2 = (m1+m2)v

0.12(0.45) + 0/12(0) = (0.12+0.12)v

0.054 = 0.24v

v = 0.054/0.24

v = 0.225m/s

Get the final kinetic energy;

KE = 1/2(m1+m2)v

KE = 1/2(0.12+0.12)(0.225)²

KE = 1/2(0.24)(0.050625)

KE = 0.12*0.050625

KE = 0.006075Joules

Hence the final kinetic energy of the system is 0.006075Joules