Question

An 800 kg cart is coasting at a constant velocity of 15 m/s. As the car coasts, a 200 kg block is dropped into it. What would be the velocity of the cart now?.

Answer 1

Using conservation of momentum, we will see that the new velocity is 12 m/s.

How to use conservation of momentum?

We know that the momentum un a closed system must be conserved, in this case, our system is the cart and the block.

Initially, the cart moves with a velocity of 15 m/s, and has a mass of 800 kg, then the initial momentum is:

P = 15m/s*800kg = 12,000 kg*m/s

Then a block of 200kg is dropped on the cart, so the new mass of the cart is 1,000 kg, then the new momentum is:

P = 1,000kg*V'

Where V' is the new velocity, and by conservation of momentum, we must have that:

12,000 kg*m/s = 1,000kg*V'

( 12,000 kg*m/s)/1,000kg = V' = 12 m/s.

The new velocity of the cart is 12 m/s.

If you want to learn more about momentum, you can read:

https://brainly.com/question/7973509