Question

A 10kg object travelling at 10 m/s collides with a 5kg object travelling at 0 m/s. The two objects stick together as a result. What is the velocity of the combined objects after the collision? (Show work and include units.)

Answer 1

The velocity of the combined objects after the collision is 6.67 m/s, calculated using the conservation of momentum.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine the velocity of the combined objects after the collision, we will use the principle of conservation of momentum. This principle states that if no external forces act on a system, the total momentum of the system before the collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision. The equation for the conservation of momentum for two objects sticking together after a collision is:
m1 * v1 + m2 * v2 = (m1 + m2) * v', where:

• m1 is the mass of the first object
• v1 is the velocity of the first object before the collision
• m2 is the mass of the second object
• v2 is the velocity of the second object before the collision
• v' is the final velocity of the combined mass after the collision

Given that m1 = 10 kg, m2 = 5 kg, v1 = 10 m/s, and v2 = 0 m/s, we can calculate the final velocity (v') as follows:

10 kg * 10 m/s + 5 kg * 0 m/s = (10 kg + 5 kg) * v'

Therefore, we have:

100 kg*m/s + 0 kg*m/s = 15 kg * v'

Solving for v', we get:

v' = 100 kg*m/s / 15 kg = 6.67 m/s

Thus, the velocity of the combined objects after the collision is 6.67 m/s.