Answer to Question #348590 in Atomic and Nuclear Physics for erika miguel

Question

COMPUTATION

1. An inelastic collision occurs in one dimension, in which a 15 kg block traveling at 7.6 m/s collides with a 13.2 kg block traveling at 2.5 m/s in the same direction, and they stick together. What are the velocities of the blocks immediately after the collision?

Answer 1

The law of conservation of momentum says

$$m_1v_1+m_2v_2=(m_1+m_2)v$$

$$v=\frac{m_1v_1+m_2v_2}{m_1+m_2}$$

$$v=\frac{15*7.6+13.2*2.5}{15+13.2}=5.21\:\rm m/s$$