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Object A is moving due east, while object B is moving due north. They collide and stick together in a completely inelastic collision. Momentum is conserved. Object A has a mass of \(m_{A}=17.0 \mathrm{kg}\) and an initial velocity of \(\overrightarrow{\mathbf{v}}_{a_{A}}=8.00 \mathrm{m} / \mathrm{s},\) due east. Object \(\mathrm{B},\) however, has a mass of \(m_{\mathrm{B}}=29.0 \mathrm{kg}\) and an initial velocity of \(\overrightarrow{\mathbf{v}}_{\mathrm{eg}}=5.00 \mathrm{m} / \mathrm{s},\) due north. Find the magnitude and direction of the total momentum of the two-object system after the collision.

Short Answer

Expert verified
The total momentum magnitude is 198 kg m/s at 46.7 degrees north of east.

Step by step solution

01

Determine Initial Momentum in East Direction

The momentum of object A in the east direction before the collision is given by \( p_{eA} = m_A \cdot v_{iA} = 17.0 \, \text{kg} \times 8.00 \, \text{m/s} = 136.0 \, \text{kg m/s} \). There is no initial momentum contribution from object B in the east direction, so \( p_e = 136.0 \, \text{kg m/s} \).
02

Determine Initial Momentum in North Direction

The momentum of object B in the north direction before the collision is \( p_{nB} = m_B \cdot v_{iB} = 29.0 \, \text{kg} \times 5.00 \, \text{m/s} = 145.0 \, \text{kg m/s} \). Object A contributes nothing in the north direction, so \( p_n = 145.0 \, \text{kg m/s} \).
03

Calculate the Total Momentum Magnitude Using Pythagorean Theorem

The total momentum after the collision is the vector sum of the momenta in the east and north directions. Calculate the magnitude using \( p_{total} = \sqrt{p_e^2 + p_n^2} = \sqrt{(136.0)^2 + (145.0)^2} \, \text{kg m/s} = \sqrt{18496 + 21025} \, \text{kg m/s} \approx 198.0 \, \text{kg m/s} \).
04

Calculate the Direction of Total Momentum

The direction \( \theta \) of the momentum vector is calculated using \( \theta = \arctan\left(\frac{p_n}{p_e}\right) = \arctan\left(\frac{145.0}{136.0}\right) \approx 46.7^\circ \). This angle is measured from the east direction towards the north.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Momentum Conservation
In a completely inelastic collision, such as the collision between objects A and B, momentum is conserved. This means that despite the objects sticking together after impact, the total momentum of the system before the collision is equal to the total momentum of the system after the collision.

The concept of momentum conservation is critical in solving collision problems. Momentum itself is the product of an object's mass and velocity. In mathematical terms, momentum is expressed as \( p = m \times v \).
  • For object A, the momentum prior to the collision is determined by its mass and velocity in the east direction, \( p_{eA} = m_A \cdot v_{iA} \).
  • For object B, the momentum comes from its movement in the north direction, given by \( p_{nB} = m_B \cdot v_{iB} \).
By calculating these momenta individually, we can ensure that their vector sum remains unchanged after the collision.
Vector Addition
Vector addition is central in calculating the total momentum in collisions involving different directions. In two-dimensional problems, like the collision of objects A and B, you must consider each component of momentum separately.

In our example:
  • Object A adds momentum in the east direction, while object B adds momentum in the north direction, resulting in two perpendicular components of momentum.
  • The total momentum is found through vector addition, which combines these two components using the Pythagorean theorem.
  • The calculation follows: \( p_{total} = \sqrt{p_e^2 + p_n^2} \), where \( p_e \) and \( p_n \) are the momentum components in the east and north directions, respectively.
This method allows us to accurately determine the magnitude of the resulting momentum after collision, taking into account both direction and magnitude.
Direction of Momentum
Understanding the direction of momentum is as important as calculating its magnitude. After a collision, determining the direction of the resultant momentum vector provides insights into the final path of the combined objects.

To find the direction, we use trigonometric relationships:
  • The angle \( \theta \) between the resultant vector and the east direction is calculated with \( \theta = \arctan\left(\frac{p_n}{p_e}\right) \).
  • This formula arises from considering the right triangle formed by the momentum components, where \( p_n \) is the opposite side and \( p_e \) is the adjacent side of the triangle.
In this particular example, \( \theta \approx 46.7^\circ \), indicating that the total momentum vector points northeast, starting from the east axis towards the north. This step is crucial for understanding how the collision changes the system's motion.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

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