In: Physics
Two carts with masses 250. g and 200. g are free to
slide without friction on a horizontal airtrack. The 250.g
cart is pushed against a spring, compressing it by 3.00 cm, then
released. It slides towards the initially stationary 200 g
mass and collides with it. After the collision the 200. g
mass has a forward velocity of 0.450 m/s and the 250. g mass has a
forward velocity of 0.250 m/s.
a) What was the velocity of the 250. g cart just before the
collision?
b) What was the spring constant?