The velocity of two objects as they meet

[hazard808]

A 30 dart is shot straight up at 9.1 . At the same instant, a 25 ball of cork is dropped from 2.6 above the dart.

What is the speed of the cork ball immediately after it is hit by the dart? Assume the collision is exactly head-on and the dart sticks in the cork.

So I assumed it was an inelastic problem; but when I looked at it; i realized that the initial velocity of both objects could only be assumed right before they hit. Both of the objects have an acceleration of 9.81 downwards; I need to find the velocity right before impact to be able to determine the speed after the impact right?

Thanks in advance!

 

[berkeman]

A 30 dart is shot straight up at 9.1 . At the same instant, a 25 ball of cork is dropped from 2.6 above the dart.

What is the speed of the cork ball immediately after it is hit by the dart? Assume the collision is exactly head-on and the dart sticks in the cork.

So I assumed it was an inelastic problem; but when I looked at it; i realized that the initial velocity of both objects could only be assumed right before they hit. Both of the objects have an acceleration of 9.81 downwards; I need to find the velocity right before impact to be able to determine the speed after the impact right?

Thanks in advance!

What in the world is a "25 ball"? Please include units in all of your quantities and calculations.

 

[hazard808]

sorry its a 30 gram dart and a 25 gram ball; I can't believe I forgot units haha

 

[hazard808]

What I initially did was try and equal the distances, but the math just led me in circles; I mean when as they meet I should be able to find time right? Unfourtunately this unit did not help in any respects I did not find what I was looking for. Silly me eh? thanks for any help :)

 

[einsteinoid]

Perhaps write equations for both of their positions as a function of time and then set them equal to one another to find when they'll collide. From there you can find their velocities.