Question

When a 1.0-kilogram cart moving with a speed of

0.50 meter per second on a horizontal surface
collides with a second 1.0-kilogram cart initially
at rest, the carts lock together. What is the speed
of the combined carts after the collision?
[Neglect friction.]
(1) 1.0 m/s (3) 0.25 m/s
(2) 0.50 m/s (4) 0 m/s

Answer 1

Hello there.

When a 1.0-kilogram cart moving with a speed of
0.50 meter per second on a horizontal surface
collides with a second 1.0-kilogram cart initially
at rest, the carts lock together. What is the speed
of the combined carts after the collision?

(3) 0.25 m/s

Answer 2

The type of collision in this system is called inelastic collision where after collision the two objects stick together. We can solve for the final velocity after collision by the expression:

v = m1v1 + m2V2 / (m1+m2)

v = 1(0.50) + (1)(0) / (1+1) = 0.25 m/s

Therefore, option 3 is the correct answer.