A 0.50-kg red cart is moving rightward with a speed of 50 cm/s when it collides with a 0.50-kg blue cart that is initially at rest. After the collision, the blue cart begins moving rightward with a speed of 40 cm/s. The red cart is still moving rightward but has slowed down to a speed of 10 cm/s. Enter the momentum values (in kg•cm/s) of each individual cart and of the system of two carts before and after the collision. Also indicate the change in momentum of each cart.

The total momentum of the system of the carts before collision is 25 kgcm/s.

The total momentum of the system of the carts after collision is 25 kgcm/s.

The change in momentum of the red cart is -20 kgcm/s.

The change in momentum of the blue cart is 20 kgcm/s.

The given parameters;

The momentum of the red cart before collision is calculated as follows;

The momentum of the blue cart before collision is calculates as follows;

The momentum of the red cart after collision is calculated as follows;

The momentum of the blue cart after collision is calculated as follows;

The total momentum of the system before and after collision is calculated as follows;

The change in momentum of the red cart is calculated as follows;

The change in momentum of the blue cart is calculated as follows;

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Explanation:

Step one:

given data

mass of red cart m1=0.5kg

initial velocity u1 of red cart=50cm/s

mass of blue cart m2=0.5kg

initial velocity u2 of blue cart= 0cm/s

final velocity v2 of blue cart= 40cm/s

final velocity v1 of red cart= 10cm/s

Step two:

Momentum values red cart before and after the collision.

Before collision

P1=m1u1

P1=0.5*50

P1=25kg•cm/s

After collision

P2=m1v1

P2=0.5*10

P2=5kg•cm/s

Change in momentum= P1-P2=25-5= 20kg•cm/s

Momentum values blue cart before and after the collision.

Before collision

P1=m1u1

P1=0.5*0

P1=0 kg•cm/s

After collision

P2=m1v1

P2=0.5*40

P2=20kg•cm/s

Change in momentum= P1-P2=0-20= -20kg•cm/s