Question

Two objects in a closed system collide while moving directly toward each other. Each has a mass of 1.00 kg and is moving at 1.80 m/s. What is the total momentum after the collision?(1 point)

Answer 1

To find the total momentum after the collision, we first need to calculate the total momentum before the collision.

In a closed system, the momentum before the collision is equal to the momentum after the collision due to the law of conservation of momentum.

**Step 1: Calculate the momentum before the collision.**

The momentum \( p \) of an object is given by the formula:
\[
p = m \cdot v
\]
where:
- \( m \) is the mass of the object,
- \( v \) is the velocity of the object.

In this case, we have two objects, each with a mass of \( 1.00 \, \text{kg} \) moving toward each other at \( 1.80 \, \text{m/s} \).

Let’s assign directions:
- Object 1 moving to the right: \( p_1 = 1.00 \, \text{kg} \times 1.80 \, \text{m/s} = 1.80 \, \text{kg} \cdot \text{m/s} \)
- Object 2 moving to the left: \( p_2 = 1.00 \, \text{kg} \times (-1.80 \, \text{m/s}) = -1.80 \, \text{kg} \cdot \text{m/s} \)

**Step 2: Calculate the total momentum before the collision.**
\[
p_{\text{total}} = p_1 + p_2 = 1.80 \, \text{kg} \cdot \text{m/s} - 1.80 \, \text{kg} \cdot \text{m/s} = 0 \, \text{kg} \cdot \text{m/s}
\]

**Step 3: Determine total momentum after the collision.**

According to the conservation of momentum:
\[
p_{\text{total, after}} = p_{\text{total, before}} = 0 \, \text{kg} \cdot \text{m/s}
\]

Therefore, the total momentum after the collision is **0 kg·m/s**.