In: Physics
A 3.0 kg cart moving to the right with a speed of 1.0 m/s has a head-on collision with a 5.0 kg cart that is initially moving to the left with a speed of 2.0 m/s. After the collision, the 3.0 kg cart is moving to the left with a speed of 1.0 m/s.
a. What is the final velocity of the 5 kg cart?
b. Determine the speed of the center of mass of the two carts before and after the collision.
c. If instead, the two carts stuck together after the collision, what would be their common velocity?
d. Determine the amount of kinetic energy lost in the collisions described in (a) and (c). State the type of collision in parts (a) and (c) and suggest a reason for the loss of total energy after the collision.