In an isolated system, bicycle 1 and bicycle 2, each with a mass of 15 kg, collide. bicycle 1 was moving to the right at 1 m/s, while bicycle 2 was moving to the left at 3 m/s. what is the magnitude of their combined momentum before the crash?
To do this, all you need to do is get the momentum of each and get the sum. The formula of momentum is:
p=mv
where: p = momentum m = mass v = velocity
Bicycle 1 and 2 have the same mass of 15 kg
Bicycle 1 v = 1 m/s Bicycle 2 v = 3 m/s but because it was coming from the opposite direction then we get a negative velocity. The negative just indicates the direction so it will be -3m/s
Their combined momentum before the crash is 30kg.m/s. We take out the negative sign because the question is asking only for the magnitude and not the direction and remember the negative sign indicates the direction.
