Answer:
a) the final velocity is 1.6 m/s
b) The lost kinetic energy is: -1.47 J
Explanation:
Step 1: Data given
Mass submarine sandwich = 0.500 kg
Velocity submarine sandwich = 3.00 m/s
Mass submarine sandwich = 0.250 kg
Velocity submarine sandwich 1.20 m/s
Initial momentum = m(sub)*v(sub) - m(cheese)*v(cheese) = final momentum = (m(sub) + m(cheese))*vfinal)
vfinal = (v(sub)*m(sub) - v(cheese)*m(cheese)) / (m(sub) + m(cheese))
vfinal = ((3 *0.5)-(1.2*0.25) / (0.5 + 0.25) = 1.6 m/s
Step 2: The lost kinetic energy is:
ΔKE = final KE - initial KE
with final KE = 1/2 * m(sub + cheese)* vfinal²
with initial KE = 1/2*m(sub)*v(sub)² - 1/2*m(cheese)*v(cheese)²
= 1/2 * m(sub + cheese)* vfinal² -1/2*m(sub)*v(sub)² - 1/2*m(cheese)*v(cheese)²
= 1/2 *(0.5 + 0.25)*1.6² - 1/2 * 0.5 *3² - 1/2*0.25*1.2²
ΔKE = -1.47 J
While the total energy of a system is always conserved, the kinetic energy carried by the moving objects is not always conserved. In an inelastic collision, energy is lost to the environment, transferred into other forms such as heat.