Final answer:
By using the conservation of momentum, the combined velocity of the two football players just after collision is found to be 1.22 m/s when they cling together.
Step-by-step explanation:
When two football players collide head-on in midair while chasing a pass, we can determine their combined velocity just after impact by applying the principle of conservation of momentum. The first player has a mass of 110.0 kg and an initial velocity of 6.10 m/s, while the second player has a mass of 124 kg and an initial velocity of -3.1 m/s. Assuming they cling together after the collision, we use this formula:
Total momentum before impact = Total momentum after impact
m1 * v1 + m2 * v2 = (m1 + m2) * v_final
Inserting the given values:
(110.0 kg * 6.10 m/s) + (124 kg * -3.1 m/s) = (110.0 kg + 124 kg) * v_final
670.0 kg*m/s - 384.4 kg*m/s = 234 kg * v_final
285.6 kg*m/s = 234 kg * v_final
v_final = 285.6 kg*m/s / 234 kg
v_final = 1.22 m/s
Their velocity just after the impact is 1.22 m/s.