A 1-kg glider and a 2-kg glider both slide toward each other at 1 m/s on an air track. They collide and stick. The combined mass moves at

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Momentum is conserved in the collision, so the total momentum before the collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision. The total momentum before the collision is:$$(1 	ext{ kg})(1 	ext{ m/s}) + (2 	ext{ kg})(1 	ext{ m/s}) = 3 	ext{ kg m/s}$$The total mass after the collision is:$$1 	ext{ kg} + 2 	ext{ kg} = 3 	ext{ kg}$$So the velocity of the combined mass after the collision is:$$3 	ext{ kg m/s} / 3 	ext{ kg} = 1 	ext{ m/s}$$

A 1-Kg Glider and a 2-Kg Glider Both Slide Toward