Refer to Exhibit 8-1 below.Exhibit 8-1 Two birds of prey hurtling after the same rabbit collide in mid-air and grab each other with their talons. Each 250-g bird is flying at 30 m/s at a 60$\degree$angle to the ground. What is the horizontal component of their momentum, in $\frac{\mathrm{kg} \cdot \mathrm{~m}}{\mathrm{~s}}$ , immediately after the collision?
A)0
B)6.1
C)7.5
D)13
E)15

Question

Refer to Exhibit 8-1 below.Exhibit 8-1 Two birds of prey hurtling after the same rabbit collide in mid-air and grab each other with their talons. Each 250-g bird is flying at 30 m/s at a 60$\degree$angle to the ground.  What is the horizontal component of their momentum, in $\frac{\mathrm{kg} \cdot \mathrm{~m}}{\mathrm{~s}}$ , immediately after the collision?
A)0 
B)6.1 
C)7.5 
D)13 
E)15

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Since the two birds collided in mid-air, their vertical momenta would cancel out, leaving only their horizontal momenta. However, since they grabbed each other with their talons, they would fall to the ground together and their horizontal momentum would become zero. Therefore, the horizontal component of their momentum immediately after the collision is 0.

Refer to Exhibit 8-1 Below °\degree° Angle to the Ground kg⋅ m s\frac{\mathrm{kg} \cdot \mathrm{~m}}{\mathrm{~s}} skg⋅ m​

Refer to Exhibit 8-1 Below $\degree$ Angle to the Ground $\frac{\mathrm{kg} \cdot \mathrm{~m}}{\mathrm{~s}}$