momentum is conserved
the smaller mass is 1/3 of the larger
... so it must have 3 times the speed
A pair of objects with masses 3m and m are connected by a hook and have a massless compressed spring between them. Initially the objects are at rest. Then the hook unlatches, the spring expands to its released length and the larger mass is then found moving left with speed v. which of the following three quantities is conserved in this process: total momentum p, total kinetic energy KE, total mechanical energy?
Then, what is the final speed, V, of the smaller mass m?
1 answer
1 answer