Question

A 2-kg cart, traveling on a horizontal air track with a speed of 3m/s, collides with a stationary 4-kg cart. The carts stick together. The impulse exerted by one cart on the other has a magnitude of

Answer 1

The impulse exerted by one cart on the other has a magnitude of 4 N.s.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given;

mass of the first cart, m₁ = 2 kg

initial speed of the first car, u₁ = 3 m/s

mass of the second cart, m₂ = 4 kg

initial speed of the second cart, u₂ = 0

Let the final speed of both carts = v, since they stick together after collision.

Apply the principle of conservation of momentum to determine v

m₁u₁ + m₂u₂ = v(m₁ + m₂)

2 x 3 + 0 = v(2 + 4)

6 = 6v

v = 1 m/s

Impulse is given by;

I = ft = mΔv = m(

The impulse exerted by the first cart on the second cart is given;

I = 2 (3 -1 )

I = 4 N.s

The impulse exerted by the second cart on the first cart is given;

I = 4(0-1)

I = - 4 N.s (equal in magnitude but opposite in direction to the impulse exerted by the first).

Therefore, the impulse exerted by one cart on the other has a magnitude of 4 N.s.