Question

A 4 kg cart is moving to the right with a speed of 2 m/s and collides with a 2

kg cart moving to the left with a speed of 1 m/s as shown in the image
above. As a result of the collision, the 4 kg cart comes to rest. Calculate the
speed of the 2 kg cart after the collision. Determine if the collision was
elastic or inelastic.

Answer 1

To find the speed of the 2 kg cart after the collision, use the law of conservation of momentum: (4 kg * 2 m/s) + (2 kg * -1 m/s) = (2 kg * v). Solving for v, we get v = 3 m/s. Therefore, the speed of the 2 kg cart after the collision is 3 m/s. The collision is inelastic because the total kinetic energy of the system is not conserved