Physics
Physics
Problem
A 0.50 kg cart moving at 0.80 m/s along a horizontal, frictionless track collides with and sticks to a second cart that is initially at rest. After the collision, the two carts move together at 0.30 m/s. Calculate the mass of the initially stationary cart.Intuitive explanation
This is a perfectly inelastic collision where momentum is conserved even though kinetic energy is lost. The key insight is that the total momentum before the collision (moving cart plus stationary cart) must equal the total momentum after (both carts stuck together). Set up the momentum equation with what you know about the first cart, what's unknown about the second, and what happens to both together—then solve for the missing mass.
Intuitive explanation
This is a perfectly inelastic collision where momentum is conserved even though kinetic energy is lost. The key insight is that the total momentum before the collision (moving cart plus stationary cart) must equal the total momentum after (both carts stuck together). Set up the momentum equation with what you know about the first cart, what's unknown about the second, and what happens to both together—then solve for the missing mass.