Two smooth trolleys A and B are on a horizontal friction-free track

PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Mechanics and materials · Mechanics and materials

Problem

Two smooth trolleys A and B are on a horizontal friction-free track. Trolley A has mass

2.0\,\text{kg}

and is moving to the right with a speed of

4.0\,\text{m\,s}^{-1}

. Trolley B is initially at rest and has an unknown mass

M

. During the collision that follows, trolley A experiences an impulse of

-6\,\text{N\,s}

(the negative sign indicates that the impulse on A is to the left). After the impact the two trolleys couple together and move as a single system to the right with a speed of

1.0\,\text{m\,s}^{-1}

. (i) Calculate the velocity of trolley A immediately after the collision but before coupling occurs. (ii) Applying conservation of linear momentum, determine the mass

M

of trolley B.

Related theory

Collisions
Impulse-Momentum Theorem
Impulse
Newton's second law: force, momentum and impulse
Laws of Motion
Linear momentum
Collisions in one dimension
Work, Energy and Power

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