Two skaters are studying collisions on an ice-covered (frictionless) lake. Skater 1 (m₁ = 85 kg) is initially traveling with a speed of 5.0 m/s, and skater 2 (m₂ = 120 kg) is initially at rest. Skater 1 then “collides” with skater 2, and they lock arms and travel away together. 

(a) Identify a “system” whose momentum is conserved. 

(b) Draw a sketch of your system in part (a) before the collision. Include a coordinate system and identify the initial velocities of the different parts of the system. 

(c) Express the conservation condition for your system. 

(d) Does your system undergo an elastic collision or an inelastic collision? How do you know? 

(e) Solve for the final velocity of the two skaters.