Two identical gliders slide toward each other on an air track.One glider moves at 1 m/s and the other glider moves at 2 m/s.They collide,stick,and move at

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The total momentum before collision is the sum of the momenta of the two gliders. Since they are identical, let their mass be m. The total momentum is m(1 m/s) + m(-2 m/s) = -m. After collision, they stick together, so their combined mass is 2m. The velocity v of the combined mass is found by setting the total momentum before collision equal to the total momentum after collision: -m = 2m(v). Solving for v gives v = -1/2 m/s. The speed is 1/2 m/s.

Two Identical Gliders Slide Toward Each Other on an Air