On a very muddy football field, a 110kg linebacker tackles an 85kg halfback. Immediately before the collision, the linebacker is slipping with a velocity of 8.8m/s north and the halfback is sliding with a velocity of 7.2m/s east.

A. What is the magnitude of the velocity at which the two players move together immediately after the collision?

B. What is the direction of this velocity?

A. the magnitude of the velocity at which the two players move together immediately after the collision is 7.9m/s

B. The direction of this velocity is due north as the linebacker since he has obviously has more momentum

Explanation:

This problem bothers on the inelastic collision

Given data

Mass of linebacker m1 = 110kg

Mass of halfbacker m2 = 85kg

Velocity of linebacker v1 = 8.8m/s

Velocity of halfbacker v2 = 7.2m/s

Applying the principle of conservation of momentum for inelastic collision we have

m1v1 + m2v2 = (m1+m2) v

Where v is the common velocity after impact

Substituting our data into the expression we have

110*8.5+85*7.2 = (110+85) v

935+612=195v

1547=195v

v=1547/195

v=7.9m/s

Momentum of linebacker after impact = 110*7.9 = 869Ns

Momentum of halfbacker after impact = 85*7.9 = 671.5Ns

the direction after impact is due north since the linebacker has greater momentum