Conservation of momentum applies.
M1*V1i+M2*V2i= (M1+M2)Vf
solve for M2
What was the mass of the second block?
M1*V1i+M2*V2i= (M1+M2)Vf
solve for M2
Before the collision, the momentum of the first block (m1) is given by:
momentum of first block = mass of first block (m1) * velocity of first block (v1)
momentum of first block = m1 * 1.3 m/s
The momentum of the second block (m2) before the collision is given by:
momentum of second block = mass of second block (m2) * velocity of second block (v2)
momentum of second block = m2 * 5.0 m/s
The total momentum before the collision is:
total momentum before = m1 * 1.3 + m2 * 5.0
After the collision, the total momentum of the combined blocks is:
total momentum after = (m1 + m2) * 2.7
Since momentum is conserved, we can set the two equations equal to each other:
m1 * 1.3 + m2 * 5.0 = (m1 + m2) * 2.7
We have one equation with two unknowns (m1 and m2). However, we know the mass of the first block (m1) is 2.9 kg.
Plugging in this value, we get:
2.9 * 1.3 + m2 * 5.0 = (2.9 + m2) * 2.7
Simplifying this equation will allow us to solve for the mass of the second block (m2).