Two asteroids collide at right angles and stick together; i.e, their initial vel
ID: 1345254 • Letter: T
Question
Two asteroids collide at right angles and stick together; i.e, their initial velocities were perpendicular to each other (take A initially moving to the right and B initially moving up).
Use momentum conservation (make a complete Momentum Chart) to find the velocity (magnitude and direction with-respect-to the velocity asteroid A had before the collision) of the asteroids after the collision.
Relevant info
Before the collision, asteroid A (mass 1,000 kg) moved at 100 m/s, and asteroid B (mass 2,000 kg) moved at 80 m/s.
Explanation / Answer
Two asteroids collide at right angles and stick together. A initially moving to the right and B initially moving up.
Before collision Momentum of A = 1000 * 100 = 105 in right direction
Before collision Momentum of B = 2000*80 = 1.6* 105 in upward direction.
After collision Mass of System = 1000 + 2000 = 3000 kg
Now Applying Momentum Conservation
Initial momentum in right direction = final momentum in right direction = 105 And
Initial momentum in upward direction = Final momentum in upward direction = 1.6*105
So Vx = 105 /3000 = 100/3 m/s
Vy =160/3 m/s
Hence Velocity = (Vx 2 + Vy2)1/2 = 62.89 m/s [Magnitude ]
Direction :
And tan(angle from X axis) = Vy /Vx = 1.6.
angle from X axis = 58 degree