Three steel spheres move along the same straight line

PHYSICS · Subjective · AP · Physics 1: Algebra-based · Force and Translational Dynamics · Force and Translational Dynamics

Problem

Three steel spheres move along the same straight line. Sphere 1 has mass 0.50 kg0.50\,\text{kg} and velocity 4.0 m s−14.0\,\text{m\,s}^{-1} east. Sphere 2 has mass 1.0 kg1.0\,\text{kg} and is initially at rest. Sphere 3 has mass 2.0 kg2.0\,\text{kg} and velocity 1.0 m s−11.0\,\text{m\,s}^{-1} west. Determine the velocity (magnitude and direction) of the center of mass of the three-sphere system at this instant.

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