Question

a 2.99 kg sphere makes a perfectly inelastic collision with a second sphere that is intially at rest. the composite moves with a speed equal to one third the original speed of the 2.99kg. what is the mass of the second sphere?​

Answer 1

5.98 kg

Step-by-step explanation:

To solve this problem, let use the Linear Momentum Conservation Law:

Before collision:
`\sum p=p_(1)+p_(2)=m_(1)v_(1)+m_(2)v_(2)=(2.99v_(1))+0=2.99v_(1)`

After collision:
`\sum p'=p_(1)'+p_(2)'=(2.99+m_(2))(v_(1)/3)`

So, we obtain:

`\sum p =\sum p' \rightarrow 2.99v_(1)=(2.99+m_(2))(v_(1)/3) \rightarrow 8.97 = 2.99 + m_(2)`

`m_(2)=8.97-2.99=5.98 kg`