Question

g A 320-g air track cart is traveling at 1.25 m/s and a 270-g cart traveling in the opposite direction at 1.33 m/s. What is the speed of the center of mass of the two carts

Answer 1

1.287m/s

Step-by-step explanation:

Using the law of conservation of mass expressed as;

m1u1+m2u2 = (m1+m2)v

m1 and m2 are the masses of the objects

u1 and u2 are the velocities

v is the speed of the center of mas of the two carts

Given

m1 = 320g = 0.32kg

u1 = 1.25m/s

m2 = 270g = 0.27kg

u2 = 1.33m/s

Substitute this value into the formula and get v;

0.32(1.25)+0.27(1.33) = (0.32+0.27)v

0.4+0.3591 = 0.59v

0.7591 = 0.59v

v = 0.7591/0.59

v = 1.287m/s

hence the speed of the center of mass of the two carts is 1.287m/s