In: Physics
A 2.0 kg glider moves in the +x direction at constant speed 2.0 m/s on a frictionless horizontal air-track. The second glider of mass 1.0 kg moves in the –x-direction at a constant speed of 2.0 m/s on the same air track towards the first glider. What is the speed of the center of mass of the two gliders right after the collision?
Let the mass of 2kg glider be m1 and that of 1kg glider be m2. Also u1 and v1 are the initia and final velocities of m1 and u2 and v2 be that of m2.
Given u1 = 2m/s and u2 = -2m/s (since the direction is opposite)
The velocity of m1 after collision is given by,
The negative sign shows that m1 is going back the same path he came after collision. That means after collision m1 is going towards -x direction.
The velocity of m2 after collision is given by,
The positive sign shows that m2 is going back the same path he came after collision. That means after collision m2 is going towards +x direction.
Now the velocity of their centre of mass is given by the equation
So the velocity of centre of mass of the two gliders after collision is 0.66m/s towars +x direction.