Consider massive gliders that slide friction-free along a horizontal air track.Glider A has a mass of 1 kg,a speed of 1 m/s,and collides with Glider B that has a mass of 5 kg and is at rest.If they stick upon collision,their speed after collision will be

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In an elastic collision, the total momentum and total kinetic energy are conserved. However, in an inelastic collision, only the total momentum is conserved. Since the gliders stick to each other, this is an inelastic collision.

Before the collision, the total momentum is:

p = m1v1 + m2v2 = (1 kg)(1 m/s) + (5 kg)(0 m/s) = 1 kgm/s

After the collision, the gliders stick together and move as a single object, so their final velocity is the same:

p = (m1 + m2)vf = (1 kg + 5 kg)vf = 6 kg vf

Setting the initial and final momenta equal and solving for vf, we get:

1 kgm/s = 6 kg vf
vf = 1/6 m/s

Therefore, the correct choice is C.

Consider Massive Gliders That Slide Friction-Free Along a Horizontal Air