Question

A mass has a momentum of + 200 kg m/s and collides and with another moving mass. Afterwards, the measured momentum of the first mass is 22 kg m/s and the 2nd mass is 230 kg m/s. What is the 2nd mass’s original momentum?

Answer 1

The original momentum of the second mass before the collision was 178 kg m/s, calculated using the conservation of momentum principle.

Step-by-step explanation:

The original momentum of the second mass can be calculated using the principle of conservation of momentum, which states that the total momentum of a closed system before a collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision, provided no external forces are acting on it. In this case, mass 1 had an initial momentum of +200 kg m/s. After the collision, mass 1 has a momentum of 22 kg m/s, and mass 2 has a momentum of 230 kg m/s. Using the conservation of momentum principle:

Initial total momentum = Final total momentum

200 kg m/s = 22 kg m/s + Final momentum of mass 2

Final momentum of mass 2 = 200 kg m/s - 22 kg m/s

Final momentum of mass 2 = 178 kg m/s

Therefore, the second mass's original momentum was 178 kg m/s.