does anyone know how to calculate momentum? :)

Question

anonymous · Answer

linear momentum is the product of an object's mass and linear velocity.

anonymous · Answer

A 20-kg cart with velocity of 20 m/s heading right collides with a 25 kg cart with a velocity of 10 m/s heading left. What is momentum of each cart?

anonymous · Answer

could you solve this so i could have an example?

anonymous · Answer

m1v1 = 20kg*20m/s = 400kg*m/s
m2v2 = 25kg*-10m/s = -250 kg*m/s

anonymous · Answer

why negative?

anonymous · Answer

m1v1 + m2v2 = m1v1 + m2v2 
v2 = - 2m/s 

The 25 kg is moving to the left
The 20 kg is moving to the right

anonymous · Answer

hmm... I've read too much into the question... follow sebasss's answer.

anonymous · Answer

the sign of the velocity depends on where you set the positive direction. In sebasss' answer he set the right direction as positive, so v_2 must be negative since it is moving opposite to right (it is moving left)

anonymous · Answer

and therefore, the momentum of the second cart is also negative