Question

Two identical (same mass and shape) balls of clay are flying through the air. Ball A is
moving to the right at 4 m/s, while ball B is moving left at 6 m/s. They collide in a
perfectly inelastic collision. What is the velocity of the resulting mass (positive is to
the right)?
Answer in units of meters/second (m/s)

Answer 1

The velocity of the resulting mass after the perfectly inelastic collision of identical balls of clay A and B is 1 m/s to the left.

Conservation of linear momentum

The final velocity of the two identical balls is determined by applying the principle of conservation of linear momentum as shown below;

m₁u₁ + m₂u₂ = v(m₁ + m₂)

where;

• u₁ is the initial velocity of ball A
• u₂ is the initial velocity of ball B
• v is the final velocity of both balls after collision
• m₁ and m₂ are masses of the two balls

m₁ = m₂ = m

let right direction = positive direction

let left direction = negative direction

m(4) + m(-6) = v(m + m)

4m - 6m = 2mv

-2m = 2mv

v = -2m/2m

v = - 1 m/s

Thus, the velocity of the resulting mass after the perfectly inelastic collision of identical balls of clay A and B is 1 m/s to the left.

Learn more about conservation of linear momentum here: https://brainly.com/question/7538238