(b) A metal block A, travelling in a straight line at 4.0 m/s on a smooth surface, collides with a second metal block B which is at rest. Fig. 3.1 shows the two metal blocks A and B before and after the
collision.
1.6 kg
3.2 kg
4.0 m/s
А
at rest
before collision
B.
1.5 m/s
V
А
B.
after collision
Fig. 3.1
The mass of A is 3.2 kg. The mass of B is 1.6 kg.
After the collision, the velocity of A is 1.5 m/s.
Calculate
(i) the momentum of A before the collision,
momentum =
(ii) the velocity v of B after the collision
V=
(c) In the collision that occurred in (b), block A and block B are in contact for 0.050 s.
Calculate the average force that is exerted on B during the collision.
average force =
(d) After the collision in (b), the total kinetic energy of the two blocks is less than the kinetic
energy of block A before the collision
Suggest one reason for this.