How High Does Block M1 Rise After an Elastic Collision on a Frictionless Track?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the maximum height that block M1 (mass 5.00 kg) reaches after an elastic collision with block M2 (mass 10.0 kg) on a frictionless track. The analysis employs the principles of conservation of momentum and conservation of kinetic energy to determine the final velocities of both blocks post-collision. Once the final velocity of block M1 is established, its kinetic energy is converted into gravitational potential energy to find the height it ascends. The key equations used are the total momentum before and after the collision, and the total kinetic energy before and after the collision.

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  • Understanding of elastic collisions in physics
  • Familiarity with conservation of momentum
  • Knowledge of conservation of kinetic energy
  • Basic principles of gravitational potential energy
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  • Study the equations of motion for elastic collisions
  • Learn about gravitational potential energy calculations
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physixnot4me
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(3) two blocks are free to slide along the frictionless wooden track. a block of mass m1=5.00kg is released from A. Protruding from its front end is the north pole of a strong magnet, repelling the north pole of an identical magnet embedded in the back end of the block of mass m2=10.0kg, initially at rest. the two blocks never touch. Calculate the maximum height to which m1 rises after the elastic collision.

Do you use conservation of kinetic energy and momentum to figure out the final velocity of the block M1 after the collision. Then let all that kinetic energy be converted to gravitational potential energy to determine how high it rises?

what equations are appplied to a question like this?
 

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physixnot4me said:
Do you use conservation of kinetic energy and momentum to figure out the final velocity of the block M1 after the collision. Then let all that kinetic energy be converted to gravitational potential energy to determine how high it rises?
what equations are appplied to a question like this?
Yes. Since you have two unknowns (v1 and v2, both "after" the collision) you need two equations. The equations you use are the "total momentum before = total momentum after" and the "total KE before = total KE after" equations:
 

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