The momentum of a system before a collision is 2.4 × 103 kilogram meters/second in the x-direction and 3.5 × 103 kilogram meters/second in the y-direction. What is the magnitude of the resultant momentum after the collision if the collision is inelastic?
A. 1.7 × 103 kilogram meters/second
B. 2.1 × 103 kilogram meters/second
C. 3.4 × 103 kilogram meters/second
D. 4.2 × 103 kilogram meters/second
E. 5.7 × 103 kilogram meters/second

Question

anonymous · Answer

I believe the answer is D, but not sure if I'm correct??

anonymous · Answer

My best guess is C but dont listen to me, your level of knowledge is probably much higher than mine.

anonymous · Answer

Alright, well thank you!

anonymous · Answer

pelletpelletpellet, dont write that as your answer!

anonymous · Answer

Pellet?

anonymous · Answer

well, all you are given are x and y components of the momentum in some system...since there is very little info on the actual collision, not that it matters i would say that D is the right answer.
Why doesn't it matter? It doesn't matter because the momentum in a given closed system never changes or you can say the momentum is conserved. So... you know the magnitude of the x and y components and you need to find out the resultant momentum. You can do that using pythagoras theorem.