Question

Two objects each of mass 1.5kg are moving in the same straight line but in opposite directions. The velocity of each object is 2.5m/s before the collision during which they stick together. What will the velocity of the combined object after collision

Answer 1

0 m/s

Step-by-step explanation:

The total momentum of the system is conserved before and after the collision. Let's assume that the direction of the right-moving object is positive and the left-moving object is negative. Then, the initial momentum of the system is:

P_before = m1 * v1 + m2 * v2

= 1.5 kg * 2.5 m/s + (-1.5 kg * 2.5 m/s) (because the velocities are in opposite directions)

= 0

Since the total momentum of the system is zero, it means that after the collision the objects will stick together and move with a common velocity. Let's call this common velocity "v".

The mass of the combined object is:

m_combined = m1 + m2 = 1.5 kg + 1.5 kg = 3 kg

So the final momentum of the system is:

P_after = m_combined * v

According to the law of conservation of momentum, P_before = P_after. Therefore:

0 = 3 kg * v

Solving for v, we get:

v = 0 m/s

So the combined object will have zero velocity after the collision.