Inelastic Collision of Two Masses – Rankers Physics
Topic: Center of Mass , Momentum and Collision
Subtopic: Momentum Conservation

Inelastic Collision of Two Masses

A body of mass 2 kg moving with velocity \(5 \text{ m s}^{-1}\) collides with a body at rest of mass 3 kg and sticks to it. Now the combined mass starts moving. The final velocity of whole mass is
\(1 \text{ m s}^{-1}\)
\(2 \text{ m s}^{-1}\)
\(4 \text{ m s}^{-1}\)
\(3 \text{ m s}^{-1}\)

Solution:

Using the law of conservation of linear momentum: \(m_1 u_1 + m_2 u_2 = (m_1 + m_2) v_f\). Substituting the values: \(2(5) + 3(0) = (2 + 3) v_f ⇒ 10 = 5 v_f ⇒ v_f = 2 \text{ m s}^{-1}\).

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