1 dimensional elastic collision

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a one-dimensional elastic collision involving two hockey pucks with different masses and initial velocities. The original poster presents a scenario where a lighter puck collides with a heavier puck at rest, questioning the expected velocities of each puck post-collision.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the implications of conservation of kinetic energy in elastic collisions and question the expected outcomes regarding the velocities of the two pucks after the collision.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants examining the assumptions made about the relationship between mass and velocity in elastic collisions. Some guidance has been offered regarding the conditions under which the velocities might be expected to differ.

Contextual Notes

There is a focus on the conceptual understanding of kinetic energy distribution in elastic collisions, with participants reflecting on the implications of mass ratios and initial conditions.

IniquiTrance
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A 0.415-kg hockey puck, moving east with a speed of 2.65 m/s, has a head-on collision with a 0.910-kg puck initially at rest.
Assuming a perfectly elastic collision, what will be the velocity of each object after the collision?
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The solution is:

v ' (lighter puck) , v' (heavier puck) = -0.990, 1.66 m/s, respectively.

My question is, wouldn't the lighter puck be expected to have a higher velocity magnitude than the heavier puck following the collision?
 
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For perfectly elastic collisions, kinetic energy is conserved.

[tex]K_i=K_1+K_2[/tex]
 
Ok, i made that assumption when solving the problem.

I'm asking conceptually, wouldn't the heavier object be expected to move with a smaller velocity magnitude?
 
IniquiTrance said:
Ok, i made that assumption when solving the problem.

I'm asking conceptually, wouldn't the heavier object be expected to move with a smaller velocity magnitude?

Sorry, I didn't read your question properly :redface:

That will only be the case if the initial kinetic energy is divided equally between the two objects, i.e. when after the collision

[tex]\frac{1}{2}m_1v_1^2=\frac{1}{2}m_2v_2^2[/tex]

so that

[tex]\frac{m_1}{m_2}=\frac{v_2^2}{v_1^2}[/tex]
 
Ah gotcha. Thanks for the help! :smile:
 

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