PHYSICS · Multi-part · AP · Physics 1: Algebra-based · Linear Momentum · Linear Momentum
Problem
Cart C (mC=2.0kg) rolls north on a level, nearly friction-free track at 4.0ms−1. Cart D (mD=3.0kg) rolls east on an identical track at 2.0ms−1. The tracks intersect at right angles, and the carts stick together when they collide at the intersection point.
Neglect any external horizontal forces during the brief collision.
(a) Determine the north and east components of the system’s total momentum just before the collision.
(b) Calculate the magnitude of the velocity of the joined carts immediately after the collision.
(c) Determine the direction of travel of the joined carts, expressed as an angle measured north of east.