Aball with a mass of 0.50 kilograms is moving at a speed of 1.8 meters/second along the positive x-axis. it collides with another ball of the same mass travelling at a speed of 2.0 meters/second toward the positive y-axis. both balls then start moving together. what is the magnitude of the resultant momentum before collision?

1.35 kg m/s

Explanation:

The law of conservation of momentum states that the total momentum before and after the collision is conserved, therefore:

we can calculate the total momentum before the collision, , since we know the masses and the initial velocities of the two balls.

The momentum along the x-axis is given only by the first ball, since the second one is moving on the y-axis:

The momentum along the y-axis is given only by the second ball, since the first one is moving on the x-axis:

So, the magnitude of the resultant momentum is

And since the total momentum after the collision is equal to the momentum before the collision,