Conservation of Momentum in Explosions

[anton717]

Homework Statement

Cart 1 and cart 2 are initially at rest, and after the explosion the momentum of the two carts was the same. If the two carts were moving at some initial speed v0 before the explosion: would the momentum of the two carts still be equal?

Homework Equations

Momentum. mvi=mvf

The Attempt at a Solution

I am 99% sure that the momentum will be conserved (makes logical sense). But since its physics, I want to make sure that its 100% correct. :) Thank you

 

[TSny]

Hello, anton717.

Consider the first case where the two carts were initially at rest. If you take into account that momentum is a vector quantity, is it really true that the momentum of each cart was the same after the explosion?

For the second case where the carts are initially moving, you are right that momentum is conserved. But the question is whether or not the momenta of the two carts are equal to each other after the explosion.