Answer:
The initial speed of the linebacker just before the collision was 4.6 m/s.
Explanation:
Mass of OSU linebacker, m = 110 kg
Mass of UM quarterback, m' = 85 kg
Just after they collide, they are momentarily stuck together, the common speed is, V = 2.6 m/s
Initial speed of quarterback is 0 as it was at rest initially, u' = 0
Let u was the initial speed of the linebacker just before the collision. As they struck together, the momentum remains conserved. So,
[tex]mu+m'u'=(m+m')V\\\\mu=(m+m')V\\\\u=\dfrac{(m+m')V}{m}\\\\u=\dfrac{(110+85)\times 2.6}{110}\\\\u=4.6\ m/s[/tex]
So, the initial speed of the linebacker just before the collision was 4.6 m/s.
