Question

A 62 kg ice skater moving at 3.2 m/s collides with a second stationary skater with mass 65 kg. The skaters cling together after the collision and move without friction. Compute their speed after the collision.

Answer 1

We will solve this problem using the conversation of momentum.

• Mass of the moving skater
• The velocity of the skater one is
• Mass of 2nd skater or the stationary skater is

After the collision, both skaters stuck together hence the total mass after the collision is

Let their velocity after the collision is .

Since the 2nd skater was at rest before the collision, his momentum is zero.

Hence using the conservation of momentum we get

Hence, after the collision their speed is 1.56 m/s.