Interesting Physics Problem: Momentum and Velocity Calculation

As two carts loaded with magnets attract each other and their velocities change, what is the total momentum of the system just before they collide? What was the velocity of the first cart when the second cart was still at rest? total momentum = 8.42 kgm/s velocity of the first cart is 3.660 m/s

Given data: Mass of cart 1 (m1): 2.3 kg Mass of cart 2 (m2): 1.5 kg Final velocity of cart 2 (V2): 4.9 m/s Final velocity of cart 1 (V3): -1.9 m/s

To find the total momentum of the system just before the carts collide, we use the formula: total momentum = m1 * v2 + m2 * v2. Plugging in the values, we get:

Total momentum = 2.3 * 4.9 + 1.5 * (-1.9) = 8.42 kgm/s.

Next, to calculate the velocity of the first cart when the second cart was at rest, we apply the conservation of momentum formula: m1 * V + m2 * V1 = m1 * V2 + m2 * V3. Since V1 (initial velocity of the second cart) is 0, the formula becomes:

2.3 * V + 1.5 * 0 = 2.3 * 4.9 + 1.5 * (-1.9)

Solving the equation above, we find that the velocity of the first cart is 3.660 m/s when the second cart was at rest.

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