A 5.0 kg object and a 10 kg object, both resting on a frictionless table, are connected by a massless compressed spring. The spring is released and the objects fly off in opposite directions. The 5.0 kg object has a velocity of 8.0 m/s to the left. What is the velocity of the 10 kg object?

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The net external force on the objects is zero and linear momentum is conserved as the spring delivers its energy to the two objects. Choose a coordinate system in which the +x direction is to the right. Let object 1 be the 5 kg object and object 2 the 10 kg object. Apply conservation of linear momentum, then solve for the velocity of interest.

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