Question

Determine the momentum of a system that consists of two objects. One object, m1, has a mass of 6 kg and a velocity of 13 m/s in the direction of the positive x-axis and a second object, m2, has a mass of 14 kg and a velocity 7 m/s in the direction of the negative x-axis.

Answer 1

The solution to the question will be explained better using the image below

Concept:

The formula to calculate momentum is given below as

`\begin{gathered} momentum=mass* velocity \\ m=mv \end{gathered}`

The first momentum will be

`\begin{gathered} m_1=m_1v_1 \\ m_1=6*13 \\ m_1=78kg\text{ m/s} \end{gathered}`

The second momentum will be

`\begin{gathered} m_2=m_2v_2 \\ m_2=14kg*7 \\ m_2=98kg\text{ m/s} \end{gathered}`

Since they are moving in different directions,

We will substract both momentums

`\begin{gathered} momentum=m_1v_1-m_2v_2 \\ momentum=78-98 \\ momentum=-20kg\text{ m/s} \end{gathered}`

Hence,

The momentum of a system that consists of two objects should be 20 kg m/s in the direction of the negative x-axis