Question

a 0.240 kg glider moving with a velocity of 0.600 m/s collides head-on with a 0.260 kg glider moving along the same line in the opposite direction with a velocity of 0.200 m/s. the collision is perfectly inelastic. the final velocity of the combined gliders is m/s. group of answer choices 0.0484 0.563 -0.392 none of these 0.184

Answer 1

To find the final velocity of the combined gliders in a perfectly inelastic collision, we use the principle of conservation of momentum. The total momentum before the collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision. In this case, the final velocity of the combined gliders is 0 m/s.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a perfectly inelastic collision, the two gliders stick together after the collision and move as one. To find the final velocity of the combined gliders, we need to use the principle of conservation of momentum. The total momentum before the collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision.

Using the equation for momentum (p = mv), the initial momentum of the first glider is 0.240 kg * 0.600 m/s = 0.144 kg·m/s in the positive direction. The initial momentum of the second glider is 0.260 kg * (-0.200 m/s) = -0.052 kg·m/s in the negative direction.

Since the collision is perfectly inelastic, the two gliders will have the same final velocity. The total mass of the combined gliders is 0.240 kg + 0.260 kg = 0.500 kg. The total momentum after the collision is zero since the gliders are moving together at the same final velocity. Therefore, the final velocity of the combined gliders is 0 m/s.