When a 5.0-kilogram cart moving with a speed of 2.8 meters per second on a horizontal surface collides with a 2.0 kilogram cart initially at rest, the carts locked together. What is the speed of the combined carts after the collision

Respuesta :

Here in all such collision type question we can use momentum conservation as we can see that there is no external force on this system

[tex]m_1v_{1i} + m_2v_{2i} = m_1v_{1f} + m_2v_{2f}[/tex]

as we know that

[tex]m_1 = 5 kg[/tex]

[tex]m_2 = 2 kg[/tex]

[tex]v_{1i} = 2.8 m/s[/tex]

[tex]v_{2i} = 0 m/s[/tex]

now from above equation we have

[tex]5(2.8) + 2(0) = m_1v+ m_2v[/tex]

[tex]14 = (5+ 2) v[/tex]

[tex]v = 2 m/s[/tex]

so the speed of combined system is 2 m/s