Vectors and are the momentum vectors of two equal masses, m₁ and m₂. A third equal mass, m₃, has a momentum such that when the three masses collide and stick together the combined mass has zero velocity. The vector that best represents the momentum of mass m₃ is

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

By conservation of momentum, the total momentum before the collision must be equal to the total momentum after the collision. Since the masses stick together and have zero velocity after the collision, the momentum vector of the third mass must be equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the vector sum of the initial momenta of the first two masses. Adding vectors 11eaa4be_84af_da97_9e4a_5fe8aa158f8e_TB6080_11 and 11eaa4be_84af_da98_9e4a_5533dabe3671_TB6080_11 gives us the vector 11eaa4be_84b0_28ba_9e4a_47b1ac25c3f0_TB6080_11, which is the best choice.

Vectors and Are the Momentum Vectors of Two