Answer:
20 m/s in the direction of asteroid B
Explanation:
The total momentum before the collision
[tex]P = m_Av_A + m_Bv_B[/tex]
where [tex]m_A = 1000 kg, m_B = 2000kg[/tex] are the masses of the 2 asteroid and [tex]v_A = 100m/s, v_B = -80 m/s[/tex] are their velocities. [tex]v_B[/tex] is negative because it's in the opposite direction with velocity of A
P = 1000*100 - 2000*80 = 100000 - 160000 = -60000 kgm/s
In the law of momentum conservation, the total momentum is conserved before and after the collision. Since after the collision, both of them stick together. The system mass is the total mass of the 2
M = 1000 + 2000 = 3000 kg
Their final velocity
v = P/M = -60000 / 3000 = -20 m/s or 20 m/s in the direction of asteroid B
