Two astronauts on opposite ends of a space ship are comparing lunches. One has a
ID: 1996966 • Letter: T
Question
Two astronauts on opposite ends of a space ship are comparing lunches. One has an apple, the other has an orange. They decide to trade. Astronaut 1 tosses the 0.160-kg apple toward astronaut 2 with a speed of 1.20 m/s. The 0.130-kg orange is tossed from astronaut 2 to astronaut 1 with a speed of 1.05 m/s. Suppose that after the collision the orange moves exactly in the negative y direction with a speed of 1.24 m/s (not at the angle drawn in the figure). What is the final speed and direction of the apple in this case? v_t = m/s theta = degree (counter clockwise from the positive x axis)Explanation / Answer
Applied momentum conservation,
momentum of apple + orange before collision = afer collision
0.160 x 1.20i + 0.130 x -1.05i = 0.160v + 0.130 x -1.24j
0.0555i = - 0.1612j + 0.16 v
v = 0.35i + 1j
magnitude = sqrt(0.35^2 + 1^2) = 1.06 m/s
Direction = tan^-1(1/0.35) = 70 deg