Question

A 539 kg mass is released from rest on a
track at a height 2.9 m above a horizontal
surface at the foot of a slope. It collides
with an 81 kg mass initially at rest on the
horizontal surface. The masses stick together
and slide up together on another similar track.What is the speed of the two blocks im-
mediately after the collision? Assume the
surfaces are frictionless. The acceleration due
to gravity is 9.8 m/s2 .
Answer in units of m/s

Answer 1

Pe=mgh
Pe=15318.38

Answer 2

use that to get the velocity of the 1st block by equating it to the KE. Then you can calculate the momentum before impact. Then use conservation of momentum with the combined mass to get the velocity of the two blocks together straight after collision.