150kg cart is traveling right 3m/s. a 20kg block of coal comes from the cart at 38degrees below the horizontal. The new velocity of the cart with the block is 3.95m/s. What is the initial speed of the coal.

Answer 1

the cart speeded up so I assume the coal came AT the cart from behind

cos 38 = .788
so
s cos 38 = .788 s = u = horizontal speed of coal

20 u + 150 (3) = 170 (3.95)

20 u + 450 = 671.5

u = 11.08
s = 11.08/cos 38 = 14.05 m/s

Answer 2

Thanks Damon