Question 2.6.12: Let a mass of 3.0 kg be standing still and a second mass of ...

Let a mass of 3.0 kg be standing still and a second mass of 5.0 kg come along and hit it with velocity 4.0 m s^{-1}. Suppose that the smaller mass moves off with a speed of 3.0 m s^{-1}. What happens to the larger mass? (See Figure 6.10.)

6.10
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The system of the two masses is an isolated system as we discussed above. Thus, momentum will be conserved. Before the collision the total momentum of the system was (3.0 × 0 + 5.0 × 4.0) N s = 20 N s. This must also be the total momentum after the collision. But after the collision the total momentum is (3.0 × 3.0 + 5.0 × u) N s where u is the unknown speed of the larger mass. Thus 20 = 9.0 + 5.0u and so u = 2.2 m s^{-1}.

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