An internal explosion breaks an object into two fragments. One fragment is 2.35 kg moving 30 degrees north of east at 3.5 m/s and the other fragment is 2.65 kg. (a) What is the total mass of the object? (b) What is the velocity of the other fragment.

Answer 1

m = 2.35 + 2.65
initial momentum = final momentum = 0
There is no momentum perpendicular to the path of the first particle so
the second particle moves at 30 degrees South of West (straight back)
2.35 * 3.5 = 2.65 * |Vb|
|Vb| = (2.35/2.65) * 3.5