Two carts collide on a low-friction track. Cart 1 has an initial momentum of +10 kg⋅m/sι^ and a final momentum of -5.0 kg⋅m/sι^ . If cart 2 has a final momentum of -7.0 kg⋅m/sι^ , what was its initial momentum?

Respuesta :

According to the saving of the momentum, the total momentum before collision is equal to the total momentum after collision

in symbols:

[tex]P_{i1}+P_{i2}=P_{f1}+P_{f2}[/tex]

thus

[tex]10+P_{i2}=(-5)+(-7)[/tex]

then, the initial momentum of the second cart

[tex]P_{i2}=(-7)+(-5)+(10)=-23m/s[/tex]