Finding Total momentum of a system

  • Thread starter Thread starter mcordi
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Momentum System
AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on calculating the total momentum of a system consisting of two carts with given masses and velocities. The first cart, weighing 2.2 kg, has a velocity of +4.3 m/s, while the second cart, weighing 1.0 kg, is initially at rest and has a velocity of -1.1 m/s just before they collide. The total momentum is calculated by summing the individual momenta of both carts, resulting in 8.4 N. The participant confirms that adding the momenta is the correct approach to find the total momentum. The conversation concludes with a clarification that the total momentum is indeed the sum of the individual momenta.
mcordi
Messages
3
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



A 2.2-kg cart is rolling along a frictionless, horizontal track towards a 1.0-kg cart that is held initially at rest. The carts are loaded with strong magnets that cause them to attract one another. Thus, the speed of each cart increases. At a certain instant before the carts collide, the first cart's velocity is +4.3 m/s, and the second cart's velocity is -1.1 m/s.*(a)*What is the total momentum of the system of the two carts at this instant?*(b)*What was the velocity of the first cart when the second cart was still at rest?

Homework Equations



p=mv

The Attempt at a Solution



So I found the momentums of each individual cart, (p1=9.5N and p2=-1.1N), do I just add the two values for the total momentum of the system? As in: 9.5N + -1.1N = 8.4 N

Thank you
 
Physics news on Phys.org
edit: nevermind, to find the total momentum yes you just them together
 
Last edited:
Thank you very much.
 
TL;DR Summary: I came across this question from a Sri Lankan A-level textbook. Question - An ice cube with a length of 10 cm is immersed in water at 0 °C. An observer observes the ice cube from the water, and it seems to be 7.75 cm long. If the refractive index of water is 4/3, find the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. I could not understand how the apparent height of the ice cube in the water depends on the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. Does anyone have an...
Kindly see the attached pdf. My attempt to solve it, is in it. I'm wondering if my solution is right. My idea is this: At any point of time, the ball may be assumed to be at an incline which is at an angle of θ(kindly see both the pics in the pdf file). The value of θ will continuously change and so will the value of friction. I'm not able to figure out, why my solution is wrong, if it is wrong .
Back
Top