Question

An object of mass 1 kg travelling in a straight line with a velocity of 10 metre per second collides with and stick to, a stationary wooden block of mass 5 kg. then they both move off together in the same straight line. calculate the total momentum just before the impact and just after the impact. also calculate the velocity of the combined object​

Answer 1

Given :

• m_1= 1kg
• u_1 = 10 m/s
• m_2 = 5 kg
• u_2 = 0

To find :

• calculate the total momentum just before the impact and just after the impact.
• calculate the velocity of the combined object

Solution :

before infact total momentum m_1u_1 + m_2u_2

= p_1 = 1 x 10 + 5 x 0

= 10kg m/s

Just after infact total momentum remains the same i.e.

p_2 = p_1 = 10kg m/s

if v is velocity of the combined object then form

p_2 = (m_1 + m_2)v,

v = p_2 /(m_1 + m_2)

= 10/(1 + 5)

= 1.67 m/s