Answer :
Final answer:
The velocity of the smaller meteor after the collision is -8 m/s.
Explanation:
To find the velocity of the smaller meteor after the collision, we can use the principle of conservation of momentum. The total momentum before the collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision.
Let's assign the positive direction as the direction of travel for the smaller meteor. The initial momentum of the larger meteor is its mass (550 kg) times its velocity (22 m/s), in the opposite direction. The initial momentum of the smaller meteor is its mass (145 kg) times its velocity (11 m/s). After the collision, the resulting momentum of the larger meteor is its mass (550 kg) times its final velocity (5 m/s), in the opposite direction. We can set up the equation:
(550 kg)(22 m/s) + (145 kg)(11 m/s) = (550 kg)(5 m/s) + (145 kg)(v)
Solving for v, we find that the velocity of the smaller meteor after the collision is -8 m/s.
