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June 2023 p43 q1
3400
Two particles P and Q, of masses 0.1 kg and 0.4 kg respectively, are free to move on a smooth horizontal plane. Particle P is projected with speed 4 m/s-1 towards Q which is stationary. After P and Q collide, the speeds of P and Q are equal.
Find the two possible values of the speed of P after the collision.
Solution
Using the conservation of momentum, the initial momentum of the system is given by:
\(0.1 imes 4 + 0 imes 0 = 0.4v + 0.1v\)
Solving for \(v\), we have:
\(0.4v + 0.1v = 0.4 \times v + 0.1 \times v = 0.4\)
Thus, \(0.5v = 0.4\)
\(v = \frac{0.4}{0.5} = 0.8 \text{ m/s}\)
Alternatively, considering the possibility of opposite direction: