In a closed system, an object with a mass of 10 kg moves at a velocity of 5.4 m/s. It collides with a second object that has a mass of 12 kg and that is moving in the opposite direction with a velocity of 3.5 m/s. What is the total momentum of the system after the collision?
54 kg-m/s
12 kg-m/s
66 kg-m/s
42 kg-m/s
To find the total momentum of the system after the collision, we need to first calculate the individual momenta of the two objects before the collision, and then add them together.
The momentum of an object is calculated as the product of its mass and velocity.
For the first object:
Momentum = mass x velocity
Momentum = 10 kg x 5.4 m/s
Momentum = 54 kg∙m/s
For the second object:
Momentum = mass x velocity
Momentum = 12 kg x (-3.5 m/s) [since it is moving in the opposite direction]
Momentum = -42 kg∙m/s
Now, to find the total momentum of the system:
Total momentum = Momentum of the first object + Momentum of the second object
Total momentum = 54 kg∙m/s + (-42 kg∙m/s)
Total momentum = 12 kg∙m/s
Therefore, the total momentum of the system after the collision is 12 kg∙m/s.