Question

A 4.5 kg car is moving at a constant Velocity of 5 m/s to the East while a Second 5kg cart is heading towards the West at a constant Speed of 3 m/s. What is the total momentum of the carts?

Answer 1

To calculate the total momentum of the carts, we need to find the momentum of each cart and then sum them together.

The momentum of an object is given by the product of its mass and velocity. Mathematically, it can be expressed as:

$\text{Momentum}=\text{Mass}\times \text{Velocity}$

For the first car: Mass of the car, m1 = 4.5 kg Velocity of the car, v1 = 5 m/s

Momentum of the first car, p1 = m1 * v1 = 4.5 kg * 5 m/s = 22.5 kg·m/s (to the east)

For the second car: Mass of the car, m2 = 5 kg Velocity of the car, v2 = -3 m/s (negative sign indicates motion to the west)

Momentum of the second car, p2 = m2 * v2 = 5 kg * (-3 m/s) = -15 kg·m/s (to the west)

To find the total momentum, we add the individual momenta of the two carts:

Total momentum = p1 + p2 = 22.5 kg·m/s + (-15 kg·m/s) = 7.5 kg·m/s (to the east)

Therefore, the total momentum of the carts is 7.5 kg·m/s to the east.