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A 1.75-kg falcon catches and holds onto a 0.645-kg dove from behind in midair. What is the question asking?

a) Find the acceleration of the falcon-dove system
b) Determine the force exerted by the falcon
c) Calculate the velocity of the falcon-dove system
d) Identify the displacement of the falcon-dove system

User Usta
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Final answer:

Option C: The question is asking to calculate the final velocity of a falcon-dove system after collision using the conservation of momentum.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student's question is asking for the velocity of a combined system post-collision, according to the principles of conservation of momentum. This is a standard problem in physics involving a collision where two objects stick together upon impact. To solve for the final velocity of the falcon-dove system after impact, we must assume the conservation of momentum since there are no external forces acting on the system.

To calculate the final velocity, we use the formula:

Momentum before collision = Momentum after collision

The initial momenta of the falcon and the dove are their masses multiplied by their velocities. Therefore, the total initial momentum of the system is:

(Mass of falcon × Velocity of falcon) + (Mass of dove × Velocity of dove)

We denote the final velocity of the combined system as V. Since they stick together, the momentum after the collision is:

(Mass of falcon + Mass of dove) × V

Equate the two momenta and solve for V.

Putting it together, we have:

(1.80 kg × 28.0 m/s) + (0.650 kg × 7.00 m/s) = (1.80 kg + 0.650 kg) × V

V = [(1.80 kg × 28.0 m/s) + (0.650 kg × 7.00 m/s)] / (1.80 kg + 0.650 kg)

Once the calculation is done, we will have the combined velocity of the falcon-dove system after the collision.

User Dvir
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