How to solve this physics question?

Question

A 2 kg ball of putty moving to the right at 3m/s has a head-on inelastic collision with a 1 kg ball of putty moving to the left at 3m/s. What is the final magnitude and direction of the velocity of the stuck together balls after the collision?

How do I solve this?

Answer 1

I suggest - dont even try or your brain will explode. Mine did just thinking of that!! Physics is just immense! My friend used to do it and show me the stuff - felt like the biggest dumb a** cuz had no idea what she was talking about.

good luck!

Answer 2

This is a summation of vectors problem. You can either graph it, or use trigonometry But this is a special case, so you don't really need to know trig.

Moving to the right
(2 Kg)(3 m/s)= 6 Kgm/s

Moving to the left
(1 Kg)(-3m/s)=-3 Kgm/s

the net left is 3 Kgm/s, but now the ball of outty is 3 Kg

therefore the now 3 Kg ball of putty is moving to the right at 1m/s

Answer 3

Perfectly inelastic collision uses this formula
m1u1+m2u2 =(m1+m2)v

m=mass of the object
u= initial velocity
v=final velocity
let movement to the right be positive, and to the left be negative

m1u1+m2u2 =(m1+m2)v
2*3 + 1*-3 = (2+1) * v
6-3 = 3v
v= 1m/s (it it positive, so it is going to the right)