How Do You Calculate Velocity After an Angular Elastic Collision?

AI Thread Summary
In an elastic collision between two identical pucks, puck A initially moves at 2.6 m/s and collides with stationary puck B. After the collision, puck A moves at 2.50 m/s at an angle of +16.3° above the x-axis. To find the speed and direction of puck B, conservation of momentum must be applied to both horizontal and vertical components. The user correctly identifies that the angles of the two pucks must sum to 90 degrees, leading to a calculated angle of -73.7° for puck B. The discussion emphasizes the need to set up equations for momentum conservation to solve for the final velocities.
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Homework Statement



Two identical pucks are on an air table. Puck A has an initial velocity of 2.6 m/s in the positive x-direction. Puck B is at rest. Puck A collides elastically with puck B and A moves off at 2.50 m/s at an angle of +16.3° above the x-axis. What is the speed and direction of puck B after the collision? (Take angles above the x-axis to be positive and below to be negative.)
____ m/s at -73.7 °


Homework Equations



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The Attempt at a Solution




i know this is an elastic collision but i do not know how to solve it for a collision that is at an angle. I got the -73.7 because i know that if anythign is hit at an angle...the total angle of the 2 objects should add to 90 degrees. but how do i solve for the final velocity?
 
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Momentum is conserved! Write equations for conservation of momentum for horizontal and vertical components.
 
how do you do it for the initial and final? i don't understand this one
 

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