A test projectile of mass 0.050 kg0.050\text{ kg}0.050 kg is fired horizontally along a frictionless track. It collides head-on with a stationary target plate, causing the plate to slide forward. Immediately before the collision, the projectile is traveling with a speed of 12 m s−112\text{ m s}^{-1}12 m s−1.
The graph of the resistive force acting on the projectile against time during the collision is shown below:
Calculate the initial momentum p1p_1p1 of the projectile just before it hits the target plate.
Use the graph to calculate the magnitude of the final momentum p2p_2p2 of the projectile immediately after the collision.
The mass of the target plate is 250 g250\text{ g}250 g. Assuming the target plate is initially at rest, calculate the final speed vvv of the target plate immediately after the collision.