Why Is Calculating the Speed of the 0.89g Particle Post-Collision Challenging?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the calculation of the speed of a 0.89 g particle post-collision with a 4.5 g particle moving at 170 m/s. The user initially applied momentum conservation principles, resulting in incorrect speeds of 955 m/s and 478 m/s. The conversation highlights the necessity of clarifying whether the collision is elastic or inelastic, as this distinction is crucial for accurate calculations. Without this information, the momentum conservation equations cannot yield definitive results.

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Xamfy19
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I have doubt for the following question. Please help.

A 4.5 g particle moving at 170 m/s collides with 0.89 g particle initially at rest. After the collision the two particles have velocities that are directed 26 deg on either side of the original line of motion of the 4.5 g particle. What is the speed of the 0.89 g particl after the collision?

I used momentum conservation for X and Y direction to obtain 955 m/s, which was wrong.

Px = 4.5 * 170 = 4.5V1cos26 + 0.89V2cos26

for Py
4.5 V1Sin26 = 0.89 V2sin26


Thanks a lot.
 
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You will have to use momentum conservation to solve this. And momentum conservation will be correct.

But you haven't supplied enough information to solve the problem. Is the collision perfectly elastic? Partially inelastic? Is energy conserved?

cookiemonster
 
Moved from accidental new thread (which I will now delete):
Originally posted by Xamfy19
That all I have from the question. I assumed the system is elastic collision. I use momentum conservation to solve and got two different answers. One is 955 m/s and another is 478 m/s. Then, I used energy conserve to prove and both of the answer are wrong. I wonder where I did wrong.
Thanks
 

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