Billiard Balls Collision: Final Direction & Speed of Equal Mass Balls

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In summary, after a collision between two equal mass billiard balls moving at right angles, with ball A moving upwards at 2.0 m/s along the y-axis and ball B moving to the right at 3.7 m/s along the x-axis, in an xy coordinate system, ball B will continue moving along the positive y-axis and the kinetic energy will be maintained.
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Ckoskie
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The question is:
- Two billiard balls of equal mass move at right angles and meet at the origin of an xy coordinate system. Ball A is moving upwards along the y-axis at 2.0 m/s, and ball B is moving to the right along the x-axis with speed 3.7m/s. After the collision, assume elastic, ball B is moving along the positive y axis. What is the final direction of ball A and what are their two speeds?
 
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  • #2
Kinetic energy maintained

The collision is elastic, and that means that the kinetic energy is maintained - just use that fact to find the answer
 

1. What is the "Billiard Balls question"?

The "Billiard Balls question" is a mathematical and scientific problem that involves calculating the number of collisions that occur between billiard balls on a pool table under certain conditions.

2. What are the conditions of the "Billiard Balls question"?

The conditions of the "Billiard Balls question" include a pool table with perfectly elastic collisions, where the balls do not lose any energy upon impact, and an initial setup where all the balls are arranged in a specific pattern.

3. What makes the "Billiard Balls question" challenging?

The "Billiard Balls question" is challenging because it requires a deep understanding of physics and mathematical principles, such as conservation of energy and momentum, as well as complex calculations and reasoning to arrive at the correct answer.

4. How many collisions occur in the "Billiard Balls question"?

The number of collisions that occur in the "Billiard Balls question" depends on the specific initial setup of the balls. However, the general formula to calculate the number of collisions is n(n-1)/2, where n is the number of balls in the setup.

5. Why is the "Billiard Balls question" important?

The "Billiard Balls question" is important because it demonstrates the principles of conservation of energy and momentum, which are fundamental concepts in physics. It also showcases the complexity and beauty of mathematics in solving real-world problems.

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