Question

for the diagrams below, each cart and block has a mass of 1kg.

1. complete the table for the two cart system below.
2. each tick mark represents 1 m/s of speed. place an “x” next to each picture that does not show conservation of momentum.
3. the 2 carts below started out at rest, then exploded apart. what is the velocity of the right (b) cart? va = 64 cm/s vb =???

Explanation:

Step1: Calculate momentum of left cart

Momentum formula is \(p = mv\). For left cart, \(m = 1kg\), \(v=- 35.0cm/s\) (negative as direction is left). So \(p_{left}=1\times(-35.0)=- 35.0kg\cdot cm/s\)

Step2: Calculate momentum of right cart

For right cart, \(m = 1kg\), \(v = 70.0cm/s\). So \(p_{right}=1\times70.0 = 70.0kg\cdot cm/s\)

Step3: Calculate momentum of system

Momentum of system \(p_{system}=p_{left}+p_{right}\). \(p_{system}=-35.0 + 70.0=35.0kg\cdot cm/s\)

Answer:

Momentum of left cart: \(-35.0kg\cdot cm/s\)
Momentum of right cart: \(70.0kg\cdot cm/s\)
Momentum of system: \(35.0kg\cdot cm/s\)