Answer to Question #73284 in Classical Mechanics for Josh

Question

A 2.0-kg cart collides with a 1.0-kg cart that is initially at rest on a low-friction track. After the collision, the 1.0-kg cart moves to the right at 0.45 m/s and the 2.0-kg cart moves to the right at 0.30 m/s .

Answer 1

From the conservation of momentum:
2v=2(0.3)+1(0.45)
The initial velocity of the 2.0-kg cart is
v=(0.3)+1/2 (0.45)=0.53 m/s .