Two dogs, Rover and Fido, run on a level frictionless surface. Rover runs eastward with a momentum of 24 kg . m/s, and Fido runs northward with momentum 10 kg . m/s. They make a sudden perfectly inelastic collision. What is the magnitude of their combined momentum after the collision?

Question

Two dogs, Rover and Fido, run on a level frictionless surface.  Rover runs eastward with a momentum of 24 kg . m/s, and Fido runs northward with momentum 10 kg . m/s.  They make a sudden perfectly inelastic collision.  What is the magnitude of their combined momentum after the collision?
A) 14 kg . m/s
B) 26 kg . m/s
C) 34 kg . m/s
D) It cannot be determined without knowing the masses and velocities of the dogs.

Henry · Accepted Answer

M1V1 + M2V2 = 24 + 10i sqrt(24^2+10^2) = 26kg.m/s = Total momentum before collision = Total momentum AFTER collision.