Question

A 3.10-kg block is moving to the right at 2.60 m/s just before it strikes and sticks to a 1.00-kg block initially at rest. What is the total momentum of the two blocks after the collision? Enter a positive answer if the total momentum is toward right and a negative answer if the total momentum is toward left.

Answer 1

Given,

The mass of the block moving to the right, M=3.10 kg

The speed of the block, u=2.60 m/s

The mass of the block at rest, m=1.00 kg

The total momentum of the two-block system before the collision is given by

`p_i=Mu_{}`

On substituting the known values,

`\begin{gathered} p_i=3.10*2.60 \\ =8.06\text{ kg}\cdot(m)/(s) \end{gathered}`

From the law of conservation of energy, the total momentum of a system always remains the same.

Thus the momentum after the collision is equal to the total momentum of the blocks before the collision.

Thus the total momentum of the two blocks after the collision is 8.06 kg·m/s