Fundamentals of Physics Extended (10th Edition)

Published by Wiley
ISBN 10: 1-11823-072-8
ISBN 13: 978-1-11823-072-5

Chapter 9 - Center of Mass and Linear Momentum - Problems - Page 254: 84a

Answer

They will move on the $x$ line

Work Step by Step

Components of total linear momentum of the system can be defined as : $\overrightarrow {P}_{i}=\sum \overrightarrow {p}_{i}=\overrightarrow {P_{1}}_{i}+\overrightarrow {P_{2}}_{i}=m_{1}\overrightarrow {v_{1}}_{i}+m_{2}\overrightarrow {v_{2}}_{i}=mv\cos \theta +mv\cos \theta =2mv\cos \theta (1) $ (x direction ) And $\overrightarrow {P}_{j}=\sum \overrightarrow {p}_{j}=\overrightarrow {P_{1}}_{j}+\overrightarrow {P_{2}}_{j}=m_{1}\overrightarrow {v_{1}}_{j}+m_{2}\overrightarrow {v_{2}}_{j}=mv\sin \theta -mv\sin \theta =0$ So if their collision is completely inelastic (and the two particles stick together), then they will only move along $x$ line: $\overrightarrow {P}_{f}=\overrightarrow {P_{i}}$
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