Final answer:
The final velocity of the two objects after colliding and sticking together is 2 m/s. This is calculated using the conservation of momentum by setting the initial momentum equal to the final momentum and then solving for the final velocity.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the velocity of the two moving objects after the collision when a 1000 kg object moving at 5 m/s collides with a stationary 1500 kg object, we can use the law of conservation of momentum. Since momentum is conserved in the collision, the total momentum before the collision must equal the total momentum after the collision.
The initial momentum of the system is the momentum of the moving object only, since the other object is stationary. It can be calculated as:
- Initial momentum = Mass of object 1 × Velocity of object 1
- Initial momentum = 1000 kg × 5 m/s
- Initial momentum = 5000 kg·m/s
After the collision, the two objects stick together and move with a common velocity, so the combined mass is the sum of both masses, which is 1000 kg + 1500 kg = 2500 kg.
Let's denote the final velocity as V. Since momentum is conserved:
- Total initial momentum = Total final momentum
- 5000 kg·m/s = 2500 kg × V
- V = 5000 kg·m/s / 2500 kg
- V = 2 m/s
Therefore, the final velocity of the combined objects after the collision is 2 m/s.