AP Physics C Mechanics 4.1 Linear Momentum Overview

Two blocks, 1 and 2, slide toward each other on a horizontal surface. Block 1 has mass m

and slides in the +x-direction with constant speed $2 v_{0}$. Block 2 has mass 6 m and slides in the

-x-direction with constant speed $v_{0}$, as shown in Figure 1. The blocks then collide and stick

together. The collision occurs from time t=0 to $t=t_{c}$. After the collision, where $t>t_{c}$, the blocks

move together with the same constant speed.

The diagrams in Figure 2 can be used to represent the momentum of blocks 1 and 2 before

and after the collision. The momentum vector diagram for Block 1 before the collision is

shown.

Draw arrows on the grids to represent the momentum vectors of Block 2 before the

collision and the two-block system before and after the collision.

- Arrows should start at the zero-momentum line.

- The length of the arrows should be proportional to the relative magnitudes of the

vectors.

- Represent an arrow of zero length by drawing a dot at zero.