Two air track carts move along an air track towards each other. Cart A has a mass of 450 g and moves toward the right with a speed of 0.850 m/s and air track cart B has a mass of 300 g and moves toward the left with a speed of 1.12 m/s. What is the total momentum of the system?

A) 0.719 kg•m/s toward the right

B) 0.719 kg•m/s toward the left

C) 0.750 kg•m/s toward the right

D) 0.047 kg•m/s toward the right

E) 0.750 kg•m/s toward the left

The right answer is D) the total momentum of the system is 0.047 kg · m/s toward the right.

Explanation:

Hi there!

The total momentum of the system is given by the sum of the momentum vectors of each cart. The momentum is calculated as follows:

p = m · v

Where:

p = momentum.

m = mass.

v = velocity.

Then, the momentum of the system will be the momentum of cart A plus the momentum of cart B (let's consider the right as the positive direction):

mA · vA + mB · Vb

0.450 kg · 0.850 m/s + 0.300 kg · ( - 1.12 m/s) = 0.047 kg · m/s

The right answer is D) the total momentum of the system is 0.047 kg · m/s toward the right.