Answer:
The speed of the center of mass of the two carts is 0.049 m/s.
Explanation:
Given;
mass of the first cart, m₁ = 310 g = 0.31 kg
speed of the first cart, v₁ = 1.25 m/s
mass of the second cart, m₂ = 270 g = 0.27 kg
speed of the second cart, v₂ = - 1.33 m/s (in opposite direction)
The speed of the center of mass of the two carts is calculated as;
[tex]v_{CM} = \frac{m_1v_1 \ + \ m_2v_2}{m_1 \ + \ m_2}\\\\ v_{CM} = \frac{(0.31 \times 1.25) \ + \ (0.27 \times -1.33)}{0.31 \ + \ 0.27} \\\\v_{CM} = \frac{0.3875 \ - \ 0.3591}{0.58} \\\\ v_{CM} = \frac{0.0284}{0.58} \\\\v_{CM} = 0.049 \ m/s[/tex]
Therefore, the speed of the center of mass of the two carts is 0.049 m/s.
