What Is the Resultant Speed After Two Birds Collide?

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In the discussion about the collision of two birds, the main focus is on calculating the resultant speed after they collide and stick together. The birds approach at a speed of 30 m/s at a 60-degree angle, and conservation of momentum is the key principle applied. The initial calculation suggested a resultant speed of 26 m/s, which was confirmed as correct through vector addition of their momenta. It was clarified that momentum is conserved, but the resultant speed is not simply the initial speed due to the angle of approach. The final consensus is that the calculated speed of 26 m/s is accurate, rather than the initial assumption of 30 m/s.
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Homework Statement



2 birds of same mass swoop down on a mouse at an angle of 60 deg from horizontal with speed 30 m/s. They collide and stick together, what is their resultant speed?

Homework Equations



Conservation of momentum.

The Attempt at a Solution



This was just on a test I took and I got 26 m/s but I'm thinking it should be just 30 m/s down? Or is some velocity lost during the collision?
 
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drewdiddy said:
Or is some velocity lost during the collision?

Hi drewdiddy! :smile:

Momentum is always conserved in collisions (energy isn't).

So your answer was right. :smile:
 
So it should have been 30 m/s instead of the 26 that I wrote? :(
 
drewdiddy said:
So it should have been 30 m/s instead of the 26 that I wrote? :(

No, your answer was right …

momentum is a vector, so you added the two momentums by vector addition, and you got 26 (times 2m). :smile:
 

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