Question

two carts, each of mass 2.2 kg, collide on a frictionless track. before the collision, a has a velocity of 3.1 m/s east and b has a velocity of 5.4 m/s west. what is the velocity of cart b after the collision?

Answer 1

The velocity of cart B after the collision can be determined using the law of conservation of momentum.

Momentum is conserved in an isolated system, meaning that the total momentum before the collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision.

Let's call the velocity of cart B after the collision "v". The initial momentum of the system is:

m_A * v_A + m_B * v_B = (2.2 kg) * (3.1 m/s) + (2.2 kg) * (-5.4 m/s) = 0

And the final momentum of the system is:

m_A * v_A + m_B * v = (2.2 kg) * (3.1 m/s) + (2.2 kg) * v = 0

Solving for v, we find:

v = 5.4 m/s

So the velocity of cart B after the collision is 5.4 m/s.