A 2.0-kg mass moving at 5.0 m/s suddenly collides head-on with a 3.0-kg mass at rest. If the collision is perfectly inelastic, what is the speed of the masses just after the collision?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In a perfectly inelastic collision, the two masses stick together. Using conservation of momentum: (2.0 kg * 5.0 m/s) + (3.0 kg * 0 m/s) = (2.0 kg + 3.0 kg) * v. Solving for v gives v = 2.0 m/s.

A 20-Kg Mass Moving at 5