Physics quiz question: completely inelastic lab cart collision

Physics 205A Quiz 4, fall semester 2019
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Two lab carts initially move towards the right along a horizontal track, and make a completely inelastic collision. Ignore friction and drag during this brief collision.


After the collision, the 0.200 kg cart has a speed that is __________ the speed of the 0.500 kg cart.
(A) slower than.
(B) equal to.
(C) faster than.
(D) (Not enough information is given.)

Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (B)

In a completely inelastic collision, the two colliding objects stick to each other such that they have the same speed (and direction) afterwards.

Sections 70854, 70855
Exam code: quiz04JuR4
(A) : 7 students
(B) : 40 students
(C) : 5 students
(D) : 0 students

Success level: 77%
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.48