A 3 kg shell at rest explodes into a 1 kg piece and a 2 kg piece. The 1 kg piece moves at 12 m/s. What is the velocity of the 2 kg piece?
Correct answer D. 6 m/s in the opposite direction
Explanation
Total momentum stays zero: 1 × 12 + 2 × v = 0, so v = −6 m/s. The 2 kg piece moves at 6 m/s opposite to the lighter piece.
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