Question

Two hockey players of opposite teams, while trying to hit a hockey ball on the ground collide and immediately become entangled. One has a mass of 60 kg and was moving with a velocity of 5 ms-1 while the other has a mass 55 kg and was moving faster with a velocity of 6 ms-1 towards the first player. In which direction and with what velocity will they move after they become entangled? Assume that the frictional force acting between the feet of the two players and ground is negligible

Answer 1

$\huge\underline \mathfrak\orange{Answer}$

Mass of player 1, m1 = 60 kg

Velocity of player 1, u1 = 5 m/s

Mass of player 2, m2 = 55 kg

Velocity of player 2, u2 = -6 m/s

[negative sign comes because direction of player 2 is opposite to the direction of player 1 and we have assumed motion along player 1 as positive]

After collision they have a common velocity say ‘v’.

So, by law of conservation of momentum,

m1u1 + m2u2 = (m1+m2)v

=> v = -0.26 m/s

The final velocity of the two player after getting entangled is 0.26 m/s directed towards player 1 or along the direction of player 2.

Hope it helps !