College Physics with MasteringPhysics 7th Edition by Jerry Wilson,Anthony Buffa,Bo Lou

Exercise 122

A fellow student states that the total momentum of a three-particle system ( m 1 = 0.25 kg, m 2 = 0.20 kg, and m 3 = 0.33 kg) is initially zero. He calculates that after an inelastic triple collision the particles have velocities of 4.0 m/s at 0°, 6.0 m at 120°, and 2.5 m/s at 230°, respectively, with angles measured from the + x -axis. Do you agree with his calculations If not, assuming the first two answers to be correct, what should be the momentum of the third particle so the total momentum is zero