One object is traveling northeast with a momentum of 12 kg-m/s, while a second object is traveling southwest on the same path as the first object with a momentum of 4 kg-m/s. When the two objects collide, they stick together. What is the momentum after their collision?(1 point)
16 kg-m/s northeast
8 kg-m/s southwest
16 kg-m/s southwest
8 kg-m/s northeast
To solve this problem, we need to consider the conservation of momentum principle. The total momentum before the collision should be equal to the total momentum after the collision.
The first object has a momentum of 12 kg-m/s in the northeast direction. Since the two objects are traveling in opposite directions, the second object has a momentum of -4 kg-m/s in the southwest direction.
To find the total momentum before the collision, we need to sum the individual momentums:
Total momentum before collision = 12 kg-m/s + (-4 kg-m/s) = 8 kg-m/s northeast.
After the collision, the two objects stick together. Therefore, their momentums are combined. Since the objects stick together, their combined momentum will have the same direction as the first object's momentum, which is northeast.
Therefore, the momentum after the collision is 8 kg-m/s northeast.
So the correct answer is:
8 kg-m/s northeast.