Two blocks are sliding along a frictionless track. Block A (mass 4.91 kg) is mov

Question

Two blocks are sliding along a frictionless track. Block A (mass 4.91 kg) is moving to the right at 2.30 m/s. Block B (mass 5.89 kg) is moving to the left at 2.76 m/s. Assume the system to be both Block A and Block B.

1) What is the total momentum of the system before the collision? Left or right?

2) What is the total momentum of the system after the collision? left or right?

3) The two blocks stick together and move off together. What is the magnitude and direction of the velocity of the blocks after the collision? Left or Right?

Explanation / Answer

1) Total momentum before collision = (4.91 X 2.3) - (5.89 X 2.76) = -4.9634 kg m/s

So the net momentum is 4.9634 kg m/s towards left

2) After collision the net momentum = 4.9634 kg m/s towards left

This is because of the law of conservation of momentum

3) Magnitude of velocity = 4.9634 / (4.91 + 5.89) = 0.460 m/s towards left

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