Calculating Total Momentum of Trolleys After Explosion

  • Thread starter Thread starter anthonych414
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Explosion Momentum
AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on calculating the total momentum of two identical trolleys after an explosion, given that they were initially at rest. The principle of conservation of momentum states that the total momentum before the explosion must equal the total momentum after. Since both trolleys have the same mass and experience the same acceleration in opposite directions, their momenta cancel each other out. Therefore, the total momentum of the system after the explosion is zero, as it was before the explosion. This conclusion aligns with the conservation of momentum principle.
anthonych414
Messages
86
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



In an explosion the two identical trolleys, each of mass m, were initially at rest. Find the total
momentum of the trolleys after the explosion.

Homework Equations



Conservation of momentum.

The Attempt at a Solution



Well, I assumed both trolleys to be particles in 2D-motion, and since they have the same mass and were both subjected to the same explosion, and thus were given the same acceleration, the total momentum should be zero. But, a friend of mine said that it could not be determined from the given. Who's right?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
what is the total momentum of the system ie both trolleys BEFORE the explosion?

conservation of momentum says it must be the same afterwards.

Since you know the systems momentum before then you know it after. The explosion causes the trolleys to fly apart at the same speed since they are identical but in opposite directions. total momentum = mtrolley * V + mtrolley * (-V) = 0
 
Thread 'Minimum mass of a block'

Thread 'Minimum mass of a block'

Here we know that if block B is going to move up or just be at the verge of moving up ##Mg \sin \theta ## will act downwards and maximum static friction will act downwards ## \mu Mg \cos \theta ## Now what im confused by is how will we know " how quickly" block B reaches its maximum static friction value without any numbers, the suggested solution says that when block A is at its maximum extension, then block B will start to move up but with a certain set of values couldn't block A reach...
View full post »

Thread 'Electric field due to charges between 2 parallel infinite planes'

TL;DR Summary: Find Electric field due to charges between 2 parallel infinite planes using Gauss law at any point Here's the diagram. We have a uniform p (rho) density of charges between 2 infinite planes in the cartesian coordinates system. I used a cube of thickness a that spans from z=-a/2 to z=a/2 as a Gaussian surface, each side of the cube has area A. I know that the field depends only on z since there is translational invariance in x and y directions because the planes are...
View full post »
Thread 'Calculation of Tensile Forces in Piston-Type Water-Lifting Devices at Elevated Locations'

Thread 'Calculation of Tensile Forces in Piston-Type Water-Lifting Devices at Elevated Locations'

Figure 1 Overall Structure Diagram Figure 2: Top view of the piston when it is cylindrical A circular opening is created at a height of 5 meters above the water surface. Inside this opening is a sleeve-type piston with a cross-sectional area of 1 square meter. The piston is pulled to the right at a constant speed. The pulling force is（Figure 2）： F = ρshg = 1000 × 1 × 5 × 10 = 50,000 N. Figure 3: Modifying the structure to incorporate a fixed internal piston When I modify the piston...
View full post »

Similar threads

Is This Momentum Conservation Equation Correct for a Gas Ejection Problem?
Replies
7
Views
2K
Conservation of Momentum of two trolleys
Replies
5
Views
6K
Ambiguous question on momentum and how it works...
Replies
13
Views
1K
Velocity after collision and Kinetic Energy.
Replies
11
Views
2K
Conservation of Momentum in Explosions
Replies
1
Views
2K
Angular momentum for a bullet and a rod attached to a ceiling
Replies
17
Views
1K
Why Must Velocities Remain Constant in a Momentum Conservation Demonstration?
Replies
3
Views
1K
Explosion of 2 Carts on a Platform (Momentum)
Replies
40
Views
4K
Finding velocity of a piece after explosion
Replies
3
Views
2K
Confusion with "explosive" part, Conservation of Momentum
Replies
6
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top