In: Physics
A 65kg skater travelling northward at 3.8m/s accidentally collides with a 75kg skater travelling west at 2.4m/s. They hold on to each other while attempting to regain balance and continue moving in that direction after the collision. What total speed and direction (find angle) do the skaters move together after the collision?
Let m1 = 65kg and m2 = 75kg. The initial velocity of m1 is u1 = 3.8m towards north and that of m2 is u2 = 2.4m/s towards west. Let v be the velocity of the system after collision in a direction . Taking momentum in the x-direction,
Taking momentum in the x-direction,
Dividing the final equation of momentum in x and y-direction, we get
Therefore,
So the speed of the skaters system after collision is 2.18m/s and the direction of the system after collision is North of West.