Question

A system consists of two cars. The first car is a 1220 kg car moving north at 5.80 m/s. The second car is 1180 kg and is moving 8.35 m/s south. What is the total momentum of the system?

Answer 1

Question #84958, Physics / Other

A system consists of two cars. The first car is a 1220 kg car moving north at 5.80 m/s. The second car is 1180 kg and is moving 8.35 m/s south. What is the total momentum of the system?

Solution

$$p_1 = (1220)(5.80)j = (7080\,Ns)j$$ $$p_2 = -(1180)(8.35)j = -(9850\,Ns)j$$

The total momentum of the system:

$$p = p_1 + p_2 = \left(7080\,\frac{kgm}{s}\right)j - \left(9850\,\frac{kgm}{s}\right)j = -(2770\,Ns)j$$

Answer: 2.77 kNs south.