How Does Velocity Change in a Two-Cart Collision?

In summary, a student conducts an experiment with two carts on a low-friction track. Cart 1, with a mass of 0.57 kg, moves from left to right at 1.0 m/s in the Earth reference frame as the student walks alongside it at the same velocity. The +x direction is considered to be to the right. In this scenario, the velocity of cart 2 (m = 0.19 kg) in the Earth reference frame before the collision, v⃗ E2,i, must be 0 m/s in order for it to come to rest after the collision while cart 1 travels from right to left at 0.33 m/s in the student's reference frame. To
  • #1
Manh
62
0

Homework Statement


A student runs an experiment with two carts on a low-friction track. As measured in the Earth reference frame, cart 1 (m = 0.57 kg ) moves from left to right at 1.0 m/s as the student walks along next to it at the same velocity. Let the +x direction be to the right.
A. What velocity v⃗ E2,i in the Earth reference frame must cart 2 (m = 0.19 kg ) have before the collision if, in the student's reference frame, cart 2 comes to rest right after the collision and cart 1 travels from right to left at0.33 m/s?
B. What does the student measure for the momentum of the two-cart system?

Homework Equations


p = mv

The Attempt at a Solution


A. v = 0 m/s

B. p = m1*v1 +m2*v2
p = (0.57 kg)(-0.33 m/s) + (0.19 kg)(0 m/s)
p = -0.19 kg*m/s

Do my answers look correct?
 
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  • #2
Manh said:
A. v = 0 m/s
doesn't look right to me. Please post your working.
 

Related to How Does Velocity Change in a Two-Cart Collision?

1. What is momentum of a two-cart system?

Momentum of a two-cart system is a vector quantity that describes the motion of the entire system. It is the product of the total mass of the system and its velocity.

2. How is momentum conserved in a two-cart system?

In a two-cart system, momentum is conserved if there are no external forces acting on the system. This means that the total momentum before and after a collision between the two carts will be the same.

3. Can the momentum of a two-cart system change?

Yes, the momentum of a two-cart system can change if there are external forces acting on the system. For example, if one of the carts is pushed by an external force, the momentum of the system will change.

4. How does the velocity of each cart affect the momentum of the two-cart system?

The velocity of each cart is a factor in determining the total momentum of the two-cart system. The higher the velocity of a cart, the higher its contribution to the total momentum of the system.

5. What happens to the momentum of a two-cart system in an elastic collision?

In an elastic collision, the total momentum of the two-cart system remains constant. This means that the sum of the individual momentums before the collision is equal to the sum of the individual momentums after the collision.

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