Question

An object of mass 3.07 kg, moving with an initial velocity of 5.07 m/s, collides with and sticks to an object of mass 2.52 kg with an initial velocity of -3.11 m/s. Find the final velocity of the composite objec

Answer 1

This is an inelastic collision. This means, unfortunately, that KE cannot save you, at least in the problem's current form.

Let's see what conservation of momentum in both directions does ya:

Conservation in the x direction:

Only 1 object here has a momentum in the x direction initally.

m1v1i + 0 = (m1 + m2)(vx)

3.09(5.10) = (3.09 + 2.52)Vx

Vx = 2.81 m/s

Step-by-step explanation:

Conservation in the y direction:

Again, only 1 object here has initial velocity in the y:

0 + m2v2i = (m1 +m2)Vy

(2.52)(-3.36) = (2.52 + 3.09)Vy

Vy = -1.51 m/s

++++++++++++++++++++

Now that you have Vx and Vy of the composite object, you can find the final velocity by doing Vf = √Vx^2 + Vy^2)

Vf = √(2.81)^2 + (-1.51)^2

Vf = 3.19 m/s