Question

HELP!!! an 8 kg mass is moving at 9.6 m/s east and it collides inelastically with a 6 kg mass moving 14.8 m/s west. After the collision, what is the velocity of the 8 kg mass? (east is positive and west is negative in terms of direction)

Answer 1

After the inelastic collision, the velocity of the 8 kg mass would be the same as the center of mass velocity. Which is the velocity of the combined system of both masses. To find the velocity of the center of mass, we can use the following formula:

vcm = (m1v1 + m2v2) / (m1+m2)

where m1 = 8kg, v1 = 9.6 m/s east, m2 = 6kg, v2 = 14.8 m/s west

vcm = (89.6 + 6(-14.8)) / (8 + 6) = -0.8 m/s (west)

Therefore, after the inelastic collision, the velocity of the 8 kg mass would be -0.8 m/s (west)