Angles in Two-Dimensional Elastic Collision

AI Thread Summary
In an elastic collision involving two pucks, one stationary, the problem requires finding the angle between their velocities after the collision. The initial momentum and kinetic energy conservation equations are established, leading to the calculation of the final velocity of the moving puck. The challenge arises in determining the angles of the two velocities without one being provided. To solve this, one can set up equations for momentum conservation in both x and y directions, resulting in two equations with sine and cosine terms. By defining the angles relative to the x-axis and using the conservation equations, it is possible to find the unknown angles and complete the solution.
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Homework Statement


The setup is there are two pucks (m1, m2) on an air table and they undergo elastic collision while m2 is stationary. I am asked to find the angle between the two velocities but I can't figure out how without being giving at least one angle.

Variables:
m1 = 28.0 g = 0.28 kg
m2 = 102 g = 0.102 kg
v1 = 0.785 m/s
v2 = ?


Homework Equations


Ki = (1/2)m1v1i2
Kf = Ki
Kf = (1/2)m1v1f2 + (1/2)m2v2f2 = Ki


The Attempt at a Solution


First I went about finding what v2 was by using Kf = Ki

(1/2)(0.028)(0.785)2 + (1/2)(0.102)v2f2 = (1/2)(0.028)(1)2
(0.008) + (1/2)(0.102)v2f2 = (0.014)
v2f2 = (0.117)
v2f = 0.343 m/s

Now this is the part I'm stuck, since they want me to find the angle between v1 and v2. If they had given me at least an angle for m1 I could use [0 = m1v1fsin\theta - m2v2fsin\theta] but I have no angles to work with, and I'm not sure how I should arrange the equations to find the angle. If I were to guess I would say that they angle would be 90o since m2 was stationary, but I'm not sure how to prove that and I don't think it applies to this case since I have two different masses.

If anyone could help me understand this problem, that would be great!
 
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Denote the angles of 2 v after collision along x-axis is alpha and beta. Then you write down conservation of momentum in x and y-axis. You will have 2 equations that contains cos, sin. Do some stuff and you can find 2 angles :D
 
You can define your coordinate axes so that the moving puck is initially traveling along the x-axis. You can then assume its angle (to the x-axis) becomes theta1 after the collision while the other puck goes off at theta2. Now there are three unknowns, v2f, theta1, and theta2, and three equations: 2 for momentum and 1 for energy.
 
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