Question

An air track car with a mass of 5-kg and velocity of 2 m/s to the right collides with a 3-kg car moving to the left with a velocity of 3 m/s. After the collision, the two cars bounce off of each other and the 5-kg car bounces back with a velocity of 1 m/s. What is the new velocity of the 3-kg car after the collision?

Answer 1

Answer: 2 m/s to the right

Step-by-step explanation:

This is a conservation of momentum question:

p before = p after → m1v1 + m2v2 = m3v3 + m4v4

**Note- if the speed is to the left, plug in a negative v!

5(2) + 3(-3) = 5(-1) + 3(v4) → 1 = -5 + 3v4 → v4 = +2 m/s :)