Angle of Deflection in Elastic Collision

AI Thread Summary
To determine the angle of deflection in an elastic collision between two objects of different masses, the initial conditions such as mass, initial angles, and speeds must be known. The solution involves using the conservation of momentum, as there is no net force acting on the system. The final angle can be derived by calculating the slope from the positions of the two objects and applying the arctangent function. This approach allows for finding the final angles without assuming one object is stationary. The discussion concludes that this method effectively solves the problem.
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This is the problem I am looking to solve: given two objects of different mass, find the angle of deflection after an elastic collision for each object.

For both objects we know:
  • m : Mass in Kilograms
  • θi : Initial Angle in Degrees
  • si : Initial Speed in Units per Second
  • sf : Final Speed in Units per Second
Looking For:
  • θf : Final Angle in Degrees
I have asked some of my colleagues at work how to do this without assuming one of the objects is stationary, and no one knew how, so I am curious if there is a formula or a way to derive the angle from this information.

SOLVED: I guess it is as simple as getting the slope from the position of the two objects then taking the arctan of that.
 
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Conservation of momentum with the 2 objects applies since there is no net force in this system of 2 objects. Can you go from there?
 

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