How does a collision at an angle affect momentum calculation?

[cd19]

Homework Statement

If two objects of mass m1, m2 and velocity u1, u2 traveling along the same path collide and combine the total momentum before collision is equal to the total momentum after collision. But if one object collides at an angle of say 30^o to the other how will this affect your calculation.

Homework Equations

m₁.u₁+m₂.u₂=m₁₊₂.v₂

The Attempt at a Solution

 

[PhanthomJay]

Hint: Momentum is a vector quantity; as such, it can have x and y components. What are your thoughts on this?

 

[cd19]

As momentum is a vector quantity, if I get the x and y components of object (a) and object (b) and find the resultant, I guess this will be equal to the total momentum? The question i am attempting wants me to find the velocity of the combined objects after collision, I figure this should be straight forward m₁u₁+m₂u₂/m₁₊₂=v_total but what i am having difficulty comprehending is will the angle of 30^o have any affect at all on the final velocity? the answer seems to suggest so, but i can't see how

 

[PhanthomJay]

Try (m_1u_1_x + m_2u_2_x)/(m_1 + m_2) = V_x , and do the same in the y direction to get V_y, then calculate the resultant velocity.

 

[cd19]

Thank you, that seemed to work perfectly