Final answer:
The student's Physics question involves high school-level calculations of the change in kinetic energy due to a collision between two masses. The answer involves determining the kinetic energy before and after the collision and calculating the difference to find the change.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question involves calculating kinetic energy, momentum, and force applied along the x-axis to a particle, which all fall under the subject of Physics. This type of problem is typically encountered at the High School level, as it involves concepts taught in high school physics courses.
Change in Kinetic Energy Due to Collision
The change in kinetic energy of a system due to a collision can be found by calculating the kinetic energy before and after the collision and then finding the difference. Kinetic energy (KE) is given by the formula KE = (1/2)mv2 where m is the mass and v is the velocity of the object.
Example Calculation:
Before the collision, we calculate the kinetic energy of both masses separately.
After the collision, we calculate the kinetic energy of the combined mass and velocity.
The change in kinetic energy is the difference between the total initial kinetic energies and the final kinetic energy after the collision.
Understanding this concept allows students to analyze inelastic collisions and the conservation of momentum in such events.