# After collision the ball comes to rest, mass of the ball is?

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1. Jan 3, 2017

### randomgamernerd

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data:
A stick of length L and mass M lies on a frictionless horizontal surface on which it is free to move in any way. A ball of mass m moving with speed v collides elastically with the rod at one of its extreme end( as shown in the figure). If after collision ball comes to rest, what should be the mass of the ball?
a) m= 2M
b)m=M
c)m=M/2
d)m=M/4

I have attached a pic of the figure
2. Relevant equations: Principle of conservation of mechanical energy(PCME) and principle of conservation of linear momentum(PCLM)

3. The attempt at a solution:
From PCLM,

mv= MV
(where V= final velocity of the rod)
From PCME,(as collision is elastic, we can conserve ME)
1/2mv2=1/2MV2
from these two equations I got m=M
But the book says m=M/4
I wonder if we need to conserve angular momentum..but cant figure out how will conservimg angular momentum change the answer
Sorry for any grammatical error
Sorry if its a duplicate thread

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2. Jan 3, 2017

### Mastermind01

The force given by the smaller ball during collision will also cause the rod to rotate. Thus, the rod will undergo a combined motion of translation and rotation. So conservation of angular momentum is to be used.

3. Jan 3, 2017

### PeroK

Also, if the rod is rotating then its kinetic energy is not just $\frac12 MV^2$ where $V$ is the speed of its centre of mass.

4. Jan 3, 2017

### randomgamernerd

okay, So when I'm conserving the energy, that will include the rotational kinetic energy...right?

5. Jan 4, 2017

Yes.

6. Jan 4, 2017

### cheapstrike

Hello,
I have a doubt related to this problem. When the ball strikes the rod, at what point will the system (rod+ball) rotate instantaneously? Will it be the center of mass of the rod? Or the other end of the rod? Or the new center of mass of rod+ball system?

I had a similar question in which there were two identical balls A and B connected by a light rod instead of a rod (as in this case), and the velocities of A and B were asked immediately after collision (ball striking B). The answer given was vA=0 m/s and vB=non-zero.
Now this should mean that the system was rotating about A as vA=0 m/s.
Kindly explain.

Last edited: Jan 4, 2017
7. Jan 4, 2017

### PeroK

You should really post this as a separate problem. Point A can be instantaneously at rest if the speed of its rotation about the centre of mass equals the linear speed of the centre of mass. Then, at one point during each rotation it is instantaneously at rest.

This is similar to each point on the rim of rolling wheel being instantaneously at rest as it touches the ground.

8. Jan 4, 2017

### cheapstrike

Ok.. so the rotation will be about center of mass but if the velocity of A w.r.t. C.M. = velocity of C.M. w.r.t. ground and both being in opposite directions, A will be at rest at that time frame.
Also, in the question asked above, will the location of point of rotation on rod change after ball strikes rod or will it be same as C.M. of rod. I guess it will be same.
Thanks, I'll keep in mind to make a separate thread for asking anything new. :D

9. Jan 4, 2017

### PeroK

The free motion of a rigid body can be decomposed into the motion of any point and a rotation about that point.

But, only the centre of mass moves in a straight line.