In an elastic head-on collision, a 0.60 kg cart moving at 5.0 m/s [W] collides with a 0.80 kg cart moving at 2.0 m/s [E]. The collision is cushioned by a spring (k = 1200 N/m). a) Determine the velocity of each cart after the collision.
b) Determine the maximum compression of the spring.

The answer is given below

Explanation:

u is the initial velocity, v is the final velocity. Given that:

a)

The final velocity of cart 1 after collision is given as:

The final velocity of cart 2 after collision is given as:

b) Using the law of conservation of energy:

explanation:

as the height from which the ruler was dropped increased, the speed of the ruler at ryan's hand increased.