124 Inelastic collision A person sits at rest on a sled on a sheet of ice; their

Question

124 Inelastic collision A person sits at rest on a sled on a sheet of ice; their combined mass is 95.0kg. A 5.0kg bowling ball is launched horizontally rightwards toward the person with speed 20m/s. The person catches the ball and the person, sled and ball slide together at the same speed. a) Determine their velocity after the ball has been caught. b) Is kinetic energy conserved in this process? Suppose that the person and sled had been moving left with speed 2.0m/s prior to catching the ball. c) Determine their velocity after the ball has been caught.

Explanation / Answer

(A) Applying energy conservation,

pi = pf

(95 x 0) + (5 x 20) = (95 + 5) v

v = 1 m/s

(B) Ki = (0) + (5 x 20^2 / 2) = 1000 J

Kf = (100)(1^2)/2 = 50 J  

Ki is not equal to kf.

so energy is not conserved.

(C) (95 x - 2) + (5 x 20) = (95 + 5) v

v = - 0.9 m/s

so final velocity is 0.9 m/s to the left

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse 1
• Subjects

---

---

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.