Collision Reaction: Mass Difference & Speed Exchange

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    Collision Reaction
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the behavior of two colliding balls with different masses and speeds in a one-dimensional scenario. Participants explore the principles of momentum and kinetic energy conservation in both elastic and inelastic collisions, while also addressing the implications of mass differences on the outcome of the collision.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions how two balls with different masses will behave upon collision, noting that equal mass would lead to an exchange of speeds.
  • Another participant explains that in a completely elastic collision, both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved, while in a completely inelastic collision, only momentum is conserved.
  • A participant expresses satisfaction with the qualitative explanation provided, indicating a lack of understanding of the underlying physics concepts such as the coefficient of restitution and conservation of kinetic energy.
  • One participant admits to a lack of knowledge about physics terms and states that their initial conclusion was based solely on intuition.
  • A later reply challenges the adequacy of the qualitative explanation without mathematical backing, suggesting that further clarification may be necessary.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the specifics of the collision outcomes, with some expressing uncertainty about the implications of mass differences and the need for further clarification on the relevant physics concepts.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the absence of definitions for key terms such as the coefficient of restitution and conservation of kinetic energy, as well as the lack of mathematical analysis in the discussion.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to individuals exploring the fundamentals of collision physics, particularly those involved in programming or developing physics engines.

hadari
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Hello,
I have a question about how balls react on collision while having diffrent mass,
lets say two balls are moving on one dimension, the first ball has the speed of V1, mass of M1, and the other ball has V2,M2.
what will be their speed after the collision?
assuming there are no other forces involved.
It is logical to me that if their mass is the same, the balls will exchange their speed, but I don't know what will happen if the balls will be with diffrent mass.
 
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Welcome to PF hadari,

If one assumes that the collision is completely elastic then both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved and the problem can be solved.

If one assumes that the collision is completely inelastic then just momentum is conserved and the problem can be solved.

In the case where neither of the above apply then the problem cannot be solved without further information.
 
Thanks you solved all my problems :)
 
hadari said:
It is logical to me that if their mass is the same, the balls will exchange their speed, but I don't know what will happen if the balls will be with diffrent mass.

I am just curious to know on what you based this conclusion, because you didn't mention anything about the co-eff of restitution or consvn of KE.
 
Last edited:
I didn't mention "co-eff of restitution or consvn of KE" because I don't know what any of those means, I don't know much about physics, I'm a programmer and just wanted to build a physics engine for a project I have. That conclusion was based on intuition only.
 
Hootenanny has replied to you qualitatively, without going into any math. Could you really understand everything about collision of balls from that?

(Please ignore this post if you feel that it is not productive for you to continue with this discussion.)
 

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