physics

The final velocity of the 5.0 kg mass is 1.18 m/s in the +x direction. The final velocity of the 3.1 kg mass is 1.64 m/s in the +x direction. This is due to conservation of momentum; the momentum of both masses before the collision (positive for the 5.0 kg mass, negative for the 3.1 kg mass) must equal the momentum of both masses after the collision. Since the masses stuck together, the total momentum (the total mass times the final velocity) remains the same. Therefore, the final velocity of the combined masses must be such that the momentum of the 5.0 kg mass and the momentum of the 3.1 kg mass equal the initial momentum of both masses combined. This can be found using the equation p = mv, where p is momentum, m is mass, and v is velocity.