Question

A118 kg defensive lineman is running at a 74 kg running back at a speed of 1 m/s. If the running back is running at the lineman with a velocity of 6 m/s (assume this one is negative) and the two collide (assume inelastic collision), what is the final velocity of the lineman/running back combo? (One decimal place and no spaces between units and answer)

Answer 1

Answer:

Final velocity will be 1.7 m/s in the initial direction of running back

Explanation:

Since there is no external force on the system of two line man so here we can say that momentum of the two person will remain constant

So we can say

initial momentum of the two persons = final momentum of them

$m_1v_{1i} + m_2v_{2i} = (m_1 + m_2) v$

now from the above equation we will have

$v = \frac{m_1v_{1i} + m_2v_{2i}}{m_1 + m_2}$

now plug in all the values in the above equation

$v = \frac{118(1) + 74(-6)}{118 + 74}$

$v = - 1.7 m/s$