Answer: The final speed is 4.56m/s
Explanation:
According to law of conservation of momentum, the sum of momentum of the bodies before collision is equal to the sum of their momentum after collision. After collision they both move with a common velocity v.
Let the masses of the carts be m1 and m2 respectively
u1 and u2 be their velocities
and v be their common velocity
Since momentum is mass × velocity
Momentum before collision will be;
For 4.52kg body with speed of 5.08m/s, its momentum before collision is
m1u1 = 4.52×5.08 = 22.96kgm/s
For 2.42kg body with speed of 3.58m/s, its momentum before collision is
m2u2 = 2.42×3.58 = 8.66kgm/s
Momentum of the bodies after collision will be (m1+m2)v
= (4.52+2.42)v
Using the law of conservation of momentum we have;
22.96+8.66 = (4.52+2.42)v
31.62 = 6.94v
V = 31.62/6.94
V = 4.56m/s
The final speed is 4.56m/s
