We are given the following information
Before collision:
Mass of the 1st object = 18 kg
Initial speed of the 1st object = 23 m/s
Mass of the 2nd object = 17 kg
Initial speed of the 2nd object = 16 m/s
After collision:
Final speed of the 1st object = 3 m/s
Final speed of the 2nd object = ?
Recall from the law of conservation of momentum, the total momentum before the collision and after the collision must be equal.
[tex]\begin{gathered} momentum\;before=momentum\;after \\ m_1u_1+m_2u_2=m_1v_1+m_2v_2 \end{gathered}[/tex]
Let us substitute the given values and solve for the final speed of the 2nd object (v2).
[tex]\begin{gathered} 18\cdot23+17\cdot16=18\cdot3+17\cdot v_2 \\ 686=54+17\cdot v_2 \\ 17\cdot v_2=686-54 \\ v_2=\frac{632}{17} \\ v_2=37.176\;\;\frac{m}{s} \end{gathered}[/tex]
Therefore, the velocity of the 17 kg object after the collision is 37.176 m/s
Option D is the correct answer.
