What is the speed of each marble immediately after the collision?

In summary, the problem involves two marbles, one moving at 43.0 m/s and the other at rest, colliding with an unknown speed. The initial attempt to solve using the equation for inelastic collisions was incorrect. The correct approach is to use the conservation of energy equation, where the sum of the kinetic energies of both marbles before and after the collision is equal.
  • #1
ScienceGeek24
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Homework Statement



A 43.0 marble moving at 1.90 strikes a 30.0 marble at rest. What is the speed of each marble immediately after the collision?

(vfx)1=?

(vfx)2=?

Homework Equations



v2f=2 m1 v1 / (m1 + m2)

The Attempt at a Solution



I tried using the equation above to get the first speed and is not the right answer. I did this 1.9m/s(2(.43)/.43+.30)=2.23m/s that apparently is wrong. Any help?
 
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  • #2
Marbles usually collide elastically. You assumed completely inelastic collision, when the marbles stick together.

ehild
 
  • #3
so what's the formula for that?
 
  • #4
Think about what an elastic collision is... When all of the energy from on marble is transferred to another - where all kinetic energy is transferred to the next marble?

Where kinetic energy E = 1/2 mv^2

The initial energy of 1 and the initial energy of 2 must equal the final energy...
 
  • #5
The energy is not transferred to one marble to the other, but conserved, just like the momentum.

The sum of the energies of both marbles is the same before and after collision.

ehuild
 

1. What is the definition of speed in the context of a collision?

Speed is the rate at which an object moves, measured as the distance traveled per unit of time. In the context of a collision, speed refers to the velocity of an object immediately after the collision occurs.

2. How is the speed of each marble calculated after a collision?

The speed of each marble after a collision can be calculated using the equation: speed = distance/time. The distance traveled by each marble can be measured by the distance between their starting and ending positions, and the time can be measured using a stopwatch.

3. Does the speed of each marble change during the collision?

Yes, the speed of each marble changes during the collision. This is because the marbles experience a change in velocity due to the forces exerted on them during the collision.

4. Can the speed of each marble be the same after a collision?

In most cases, the speed of each marble will not be the same after a collision. This is because the marbles will experience different levels of force and friction during the collision, leading to different changes in velocity and therefore different speeds.

5. How does the speed of each marble after a collision affect the overall outcome of the collision?

The speed of each marble after a collision can affect the overall outcome in various ways. For example, if one marble has a significantly higher speed than the other, it may have a greater impact and cause the other marble to move further away. Additionally, the speed of each marble can affect the transfer of momentum between them, which can impact the final positions and velocities of the marbles after the collision.

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