Final answer:
The correct approach to find the common velocity after a collision involves using the principle of conservation of momentum and applying the correct formula, which is the ratio of the total initial momentum to the total mass of the system.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student question pertains to the conservation of linear momentum following a collision in physics. The equation provided by the student is incorrect. The correct expression for finding the common velocity V after a perfectly inelastic collision, where two objects stick together and move with the same velocity, is derived from the conservation of momentum principle: m1u1 + m2u2 = (m1 + m2)V. To find V, we rearrange the equation to V = (m1u1 + m2u2)/(m1 + m2). This result tells us that the common velocity after the collision can be found by dividing the total momentum before collision by the total mass of the two objects.