A very large firecracker (m = 1.0 kg) is ignited when at rest on the ground. Two pieces fly away from the explosion. The first has a speed of 4 m/s. The second has a speed of 6 m/s in the opposite direction. If the first piece has a mass of 0.3 kg, what is the mass of the second piece?
Since there is no external force therefore the momentum will
remain conserved.
Initial momentum of the system = 0 (fire cracker at rest)
Final momentum of the system = m1V1 -
m2V2
where m1 is the mass of first particle = 0.3 kg
V1 is speed of first peice = 4 m/s
m2 is the mass of the second peice
V2 is the speed of second particle = 6 m/s
Now applying conservation of momentum
m1V1 - m2V2 = 0
0.3*4 -m2*6 = 0
m2 = 1.2/6 = 0.2 kg
Hence the mass of the second peice would be 0.2 kg.
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