Elastic collision between bowling ball and tennis ball

In summary, a table-tennis ball is thrown at a stationary bowling ball and makes a one-dimensional elastic collision, bouncing back along the same line. To conserve momentum, the table-tennis ball will have a smaller magnitude of momentum and more kinetic energy compared to the bowling ball after the collision. This is because the table-tennis ball has a smaller mass than the bowling ball, so it needs to have a higher velocity to have the same momentum. However, since energy is also conserved, the table-tennis ball will have more kinetic energy than the bowling ball after the collision due to its higher velocity.
  • #1
bdh2991
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Homework Statement



9.6 A table-tennis ball is thrown at a stationary bowling ball. The
table-tennis ball makes a one-dimensional elastic collision and bounces back
along the same line. Compared with the bowling ball after the collision, does
the table-tennis ball have (a) a larger magnitude of momentum and more
kinetic energy, (b) a smaller magnitude of momentum and more kinetic
energy, (c) a larger magnitude of momentum and less kinetic energy, (d) a
smaller magnitude of momentum and less kinetic energy, or (e) the same
magnitude of momentum and the same kinetic energy?

Homework Equations



p = mv
k = 1/2 m v^2

The Attempt at a Solution



please help me understand this
 
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  • #2
You have a light moving object (tennis ball) impact and reflect from a heavy stationary object (bowling ball). Think in terms of conservation of momentum and energy. Remember, momentum is a vector so it has a magnitude and direction.
Let's say the ball was moving in the positive direction, then after the impact, its moving in the negative direction. What has to happen to conserve momentum?
 

1. What is an elastic collision?

An elastic collision is a type of collision in which the total kinetic energy of the system is conserved. This means that the total energy before the collision is equal to the total energy after the collision. In other words, the objects involved in the collision do not lose any energy to heat, sound, or deformation.

2. How does an elastic collision between a bowling ball and a tennis ball work?

In an elastic collision between a bowling ball and a tennis ball, the two objects will both be in motion before the collision. When they collide, the force of the impact will cause the bowling ball to transfer some of its kinetic energy to the tennis ball, causing it to move in the opposite direction. The bowling ball will also experience a change in direction, but its mass is much greater than the tennis ball, so it will not move as much.

3. What factors affect the outcome of an elastic collision?

The outcome of an elastic collision is affected by several factors, including the mass and velocity of the objects involved, as well as the angle at which they collide. In an ideal scenario, where the objects have equal mass and the collision is head-on, the objects will exchange velocities and continue moving in opposite directions with the same speed.

4. Can an elastic collision ever result in one object stopping completely?

No, in an elastic collision, the total kinetic energy of the system must remain constant. This means that even if one object has a much greater mass than the other, it will still transfer some of its energy to the smaller object, causing it to continue moving in the opposite direction.

5. How is an elastic collision different from an inelastic collision?

In an inelastic collision, some of the kinetic energy is lost to heat, sound, or deformation. This means that the total energy after the collision is less than the total energy before the collision. In an elastic collision, all of the initial energy is conserved, making it a more ideal scenario for calculating the motion of objects.

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