In a laboratory setup, two frictionless carts are placed on ahorizontal surface.

Question

In a laboratory setup, two frictionless carts are placed on ahorizontal surface. Cart A has a mass of 500 g and cart B'smass is 1000 g. Between them is placed an ideal (very light) springand they are squeezed together carefully, thereby compressing thespring by 5.50 cm. Both carts are then released and B'srecoil speed is measured to be 0.55 m/s. (a) Will cart A's speed be(1) greater than, (2) less than, or (3) the same as B's speed?Explain. (b) Determine B's recoil speed to see if yourconjecture in (a) was correct. (c) Determine the spring constant ofthe spring.

Explanation / Answer

VA MA = VBMB   by conservation of momentum A's speed will be greater 1/2 MA VA2 + 1/2MB VB2 = 1/2 k *.0552 by conservation of energy You should get around 300 N/m for the spring constant

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