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.
 
I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
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...
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'
Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
Back
Top