Homework Help: physics

Posted by cynthia-joice on Sunday, May 27, 2012 at 10:46am.

a particle of mass 5m moving with speed v, explodes and splits into two pieces with masses of 2m and 3m. The lighter piece continues to move in the original direction with speed v relative to the heavier piece. What is the speed of the lighter piece

physics - drwls, Sunday, May 27, 2012 at 1:13pm
The total momentum remains 5m*v in the forward direction.
Heavier piece speed after breakup = v1
Lighter piece speed after breakup = v2
v2 - v1 = v

5mv = 2m*v2 + 3m*v1
= 2m*v2 + 3m*(v2 - v)
8*mv = 5*mv2

v2 = (8/5)v
v1 = (3/5)v
The lighter piece moves faster.

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