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lmf22
Oct14-04, 07:55 PM
A softball of mass 0.220 kg that is moving with a speed of 6.7 m/s collides head-on and elastically with another ball initially at rest. Afterward it is found that the incoming ball has bounced backward with a speed of 4.2 m/s. (Assume the positive direction is forward.)

(a) Calculate the velocity of the target ball after the collision.

(b) Calculate the mass of the target ball.

I know I have to use conservation of momentum along with conservation of energy, but I don't know how to set them up or combine the 2 equations.

Parth Dave
Oct14-04, 08:42 PM
You are right, momentum and kinetic energy will be conserved. Can you write an equation to show that?

lmf22
Oct14-04, 11:28 PM
momentum equation:
initial momentum = final momentum
m1v1 + m2v2 = m1v1(final) + m2v2(final)

I know that m2v2 (initial) = 0 because the target ball is at rest.

Kinetic energy equation:
initial energy = final energy
.5m1v1^2 + .5m2v2^2 = .5m1v1^2(final) + .5m2v2^2(final)

.5m2v2^2 (initial) = 0 because target ball is at rest.

How would I solve these 2 equations?