Question

Two identical gliders slide toward each other on an air track. One moves at 1.19 m/s and the other at 1.8 m/s. They collide and stick. The combined mass moves at a speed of ____. Don't forget to include the SI units in your answer.

Answer 1

Solution:

Given two identical gliders slide each otheron an air track.

Velocity of 1st Glider (V₁) = 1.19 m/s

Velocity of 2nd Glider (V₂₎ = 1.8 m/s

Let

Mass of 1st Glider = M₁

Mass of 2nd Glider = M₂

Since Gliders are identical so

M₁ = M₂ = M

Since They are sliding towards each other with velocities V_{1 ,} V₂ and They collide and stick .This is inelastic collission.In which momentum remain conserve but kinetic energy does not.

According to conservation of momentum

momentum before collission = momentum after collission

M₁ V₁ + M₂ V₂ = (M₁ + M₂ ) x V

where V is the velocity with which combined mass move after collission.

V = (M₁ V₁ + M₂ V₂ ) / (M₁ + M₂ ) (Use M₁ =M₂ = M and Values of V₁ and V₂ in equation )

V = (M V₁ + M V₂ ) / (M + M )

V = M (V₁ + V₂) / 2M

V = (V₁ + V₂) / 2

V = (1.19 + 1.8) / 2 = 1.99 / 2 = 0.995 m/s

so the velocity with which combined mass move is 0.995 m / s