skunk said:I've only got: 5m x v = (2m x 5v) + (3m x -1 2/3 v)
Does the problem lie with the term "relative speed"?
Yes. You should always determine speeds with respect to the ground when using this equation. If the lighter piece is moving at 5v with respect to the heavier piece, and the heavier piece is moving at a speed v2 with respect to the ground, then what is the speed of the lighter piece with respect to the ground, in terms of v and v2?skunk said:I've only got: 5m x v = (2m x 5v) + (3m x -1 2/3 v)
Does the problem lie with the term "relative speed"?
The law of conservation of linear momentum states that the total momentum of a closed system remains constant, unless acted upon by an external force.
Momentum is defined as the product of an object's mass and its velocity. It is a measure of an object's motion.
An example of conservation of linear momentum is when two objects collide and their total momentum before the collision is equal to their total momentum after the collision, as long as there are no external forces acting on the system.
Conservation of linear momentum is related to Newton's third law of motion, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In other words, when two objects collide, the forces they exert on each other are equal and opposite, resulting in a conservation of momentum.
Conservation of linear momentum is important in physics because it is a fundamental law that governs the motion of objects. It allows us to predict and understand the behavior of objects in motion, and it is a key principle in many areas of physics, including mechanics, thermodynamics, and electromagnetism.