Conservation of Momentum of a box of mass

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the conservation of momentum in a collision scenario involving two boxes, Box A and Box B, with specified masses and velocities. The original poster seeks assistance in calculating the momentum of Box B after the collision, following their calculations for Box A's momentum before and after the collision.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the application of the conservation of momentum principle, questioning the directionality of momentum and how it affects the calculations. They discuss the implications of defining a positive direction for momentum and how that influences the signs of the calculated values.

Discussion Status

There is an ongoing exploration of the calculations related to Box B's momentum after the collision. Some participants have provided guidance on the correct approach to the calculations, and there is acknowledgment of errors in the original poster's method. Multiple interpretations of the momentum direction are being discussed, but no explicit consensus has been reached.

Contextual Notes

The original poster expresses uncertainty about their calculations and the assumptions made regarding the direction of momentum. They mention having double-checked their math, indicating a constraint in their understanding of the problem setup.

blue_lilly
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Homework Statement


Box A of mass 1.20 kg is sliding to the right across a frictionless table at a speed of 2.52 m/s. Box A collides with Box B which has a mass of 2.56 kg, and Box A bounces straight back to the left with a speed of 0.665 m/s.
A) What is the momentum of Box A before the collision?
3.02 kg*m/s To the Right Correct Answer​
B) What is the momentum of Box A after the collision?
0.798 kg*m/s Correct: To the Left Correct Answer​
C) What is the momentum of Box B after the collision? This is the one I need help with!

Homework Equations


Momentum(P)=mass(kg)*Velocity(kg*m/s)
Momentum(P-before)=Momentum(P-after)

The Attempt at a Solution


A) P=m*V=(1.20 kg)(2.52 m/s)=3.02 kg*m/s To the right CORRECT
B) P=m*V=(1.20 kg)(.665 m/s)=.798 kg*m/s To the Left CORRECT
This is the part I am having trouble with
C) Momentum(before)=Momentum(after); P=m*V
PBeforeA+PBeforeB=PAfterA+PAfterB
[(1.20 kg)(2.52 m/s)]+[(2.56 kg)(0 m/s)] = [(1.20 kg)(.665 m/s)]+[]
[3.02 kg*m/s]+[0 kg*m/s] = [.798 kg*m/s]+[PAfterB]
[(3.02 kg*m/s)/(.798 kg*m/s)] = PAfterB
PAfterB = [(3.02 kg*m/s)/(.798 kg*m/s)]
PAfterB = 3.78 kg*m/s : To the Right

The answer is incorrect. I am assuming the [To the right] portion is correct because BoxA and BoxB collided; this means that they are asserting equal and opposite force on each other and because BoxA went to the Left, BoxB must go to the Right.

This leaves the incorrect portion to be the Momentum of BoxB after the collision. I double checked my math, a numerous amount of time, so I don't know where I am going wrong.

Help is appreciated!
 
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blue_lilly said:
[(1.20 kg)(2.52 m/s)]+[(2.56 kg)(0 m/s)] = [(1.20 kg)(.665 m/s)]+[]
Decide which direction, left or right, is positive. Say it's right. If I tell you box A has momentum +0.8kgm/s at some point, which way is it moving?
 
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haruspex said:
Decide which direction, left or right, is positive. Say it's right. If I tell you box A has momentum +0.8kgm/s at some point, which way is it moving?

So if I say the right is positive, then anytime a box is moving to the right-there would be a + sign and if it was moving to the left, a -sign.

[+3.02 kg*m/s]+[0 kg*m/s] = [-.798 kg*m/s]+[+PAfterB]
[(+3.02 kg*m/s)-(-.798 kg*m/s)] = +PAfterB
+PAfterB = [(+3.02 kg*m/s)-(-.798 kg*m/s)]
PAfterB = 3.818 kg*m/s To The Right

Is this correct?
 
blue_lilly said:
PAfterB = 3.818 kg*m/s To The Right
Looks right.
(You also did some very strange things later on in the OP, like dividing instead of subtracting. But you got it right this time.)
 
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haruspex said:
Looks right.
(You also did some very strange things later on in the OP, like dividing instead of subtracting. But you got it right this time.)

Thank you so much, that makes more sense!

I caught the dividing error after I posted the question to the forum! C:
 

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