M1 June 2011 Q2

EdexcelOld spec8 marksImpulse & Momentum

2. Particle \(P\) has mass 3 kg and particle \(Q\) has mass 2 kg. The particles are moving in opposite directions on a smooth horizontal plane when they collide directly. Immediately before the collision, \(P\) has speed 3 m s\(^{-1}\) and \(Q\) has speed 2 m s\(^{-1}\). Immediately after the collision, both particles move in the same direction and the difference in their speeds is 1 m s\(^{-1}\).

(a) Find the speed of each particle after the collision. (5)
(b) Find the magnitude of the impulse exerted on \(P\) by \(Q\). (3)