---
title: "In a controlled experiment, engineers test a firecracker. The firecracker has mass \\( m \\) and is placed at rest on a horizontal surface. When the firecracker is lit, it explodes and breaks apart into two pieces. In the first trial, one piece with mass \\( \\frac{m}{2} \\) moves to the left with speed \\( v_L \\) and the other piece moves to the right with speed \\( v_R \\). A second trial is performed with an identical firecracker, and one piece with mass \\( \\frac{3m}{4} \\) moves to the left, again with speed \\( v_L \\). What will the speed of the other piece be in this second trial?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/82847/"
date_modified: "2025-03-18T06:40:46+00:00"
---

# In a controlled experiment, engineers test a firecracker. The firecracker has mass \( m \) and is placed at rest on a horizontal surface. When the firecracker is lit, it explodes and breaks apart into two pieces. In the first trial, one piece with mass \( \frac{m}{2} \) moves to the left with speed \( v_L \) and the other piece moves to the right with speed \( v_R \). A second trial is performed with an identical firecracker, and one piece with mass \( \frac{3m}{4} \) moves to the left, again with speed \( v_L \). What will the speed of the other piece be in this second trial?

In a controlled experiment, engineers test a firecracker. The firecracker has mass \( m \) and is placed at rest on a horizontal surface. When the firecracker is lit, it explodes and breaks apart into two pieces. In the first trial, one piece with mass \( \frac{m}{2} \) moves to the left with speed \( v_L \) and the other piece moves to the right with speed \( v_R \). A second trial is performed with an identical firecracker, and one piece with mass \( \frac{3m}{4} \) moves to the left, again with speed \( v_L \). What will the speed of the other piece be in this second trial?

- **A.** \[ \frac{v_R}{4} \]
- **B.** \[ v_R \]
- **C.** \[ \frac{3v_R}{2} \]
- **D.** \[ 3v_R \]

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/82847/*