Where Does Heat Come From When Momentum is Conserved?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between momentum conservation and the generation of heat during a collision, specifically when a mass is caught by a person. Participants explore the mechanisms through which heat is produced in this context, considering factors such as kinetic energy loss and molecular vibrations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions how heat is generated when momentum is conserved, suggesting that heat may arise from kinetic energy being transformed into internal energy within the glove upon impact.
  • Another participant mentions that friction, sound, and other forms of energy transfer contribute to heat generation during the collision.
  • A later reply elaborates that the impact causes the glove to vibrate, which leads to random molecular vibrations, increasing the internal energy and temperature of the glove.
  • One participant proposes that muscular effort used to maintain the glove's position during the catch also contributes to heat generation, suggesting a broader view of the system involved.
  • There is a mention of air resistance as a factor, although the specifics of distances involved are not provided.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various viewpoints on the mechanisms of heat generation, with no consensus reached on the primary source of heat or the extent of contributions from different factors.

Contextual Notes

Participants do not provide specific distances or detailed quantitative analysis, which may limit the understanding of the energy transformations involved.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in the physics of collisions, thermodynamics, and energy transfer may find this discussion relevant.

HiPPiE
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I suppose this sounds a little silly, but:

Momentum has to be conserved, but often at the cost of some kinetic energy. For example, if someone throws a 1kg mass at 50kg person at 10 m/s, he catches it:
mv=mv
(1)10=v(51)
v=10/51
KE1=.5(1)(10)^2=50j
KE2=.5(51)(10/51)^2=.98j

Heat is thus created, but my question is: where? I suppose in this situation it would be in the glove... but how exactly does that heat come about? Heat is, I guess, kinetic energy on a smaller scale (moving particles). How do these particles begin to move?
 
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Think about friction, sound all other waves that have some energy
 
HiPPiE said:
Momentum has to be conserved, but often at the cost of some kinetic energy. For example, if someone throws a 1kg mass at 50kg person at 10 m/s, he catches it:
mv=mv
(1)10=v(51)
v=10/51
KE1=.5(1)(10)^2=50j
KE2=.5(51)(10/51)^2=.98j

Heat is thus created, but my question is: where? I suppose in this situation it would be in the glove... but how exactly does that heat come about? Heat is, I guess, kinetic energy on a smaller scale (moving particles). How do these particles begin to move?
There is not much friction here. The ball striking the glove causes it to vibrate. This vibration quickly degrades into a random vibration of the molecules in the glove, which raises their internal energy
(U in thermodynamics). This increase in U raises the temperature of the glove. Heat is the transfer of this internal energy from the glove to your hand, which gives you a warm feeling because the batter is out.
 
Meir Achuz said:
which gives you a warm feeling because the batter is out.
:smile:
I would propose further that some of the muscular effort used to maintain the glove in position when the ball hits it produces heat in the catcher and could be considered part of the system.
 
Friction - i meant air resistance, no distances were given
 
Ok, I see. Makes sense...

Oh and thanks :)
 

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