AP Physics Momentum, Impulse, Collisions, and Power

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem related to momentum, impulse, collisions, and power. Participants express confusion due to a lack of specific information, such as the masses involved and any relevant sketches or previous problems that could provide context.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants question the feasibility of solving the problem without additional information, such as the values of the masses. There are suggestions to express answers in terms of the variables m1 and m2.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring the implications of missing information. Some guidance has been offered regarding expressing solutions as functions of the unknown masses, but there is no consensus on a definitive approach due to the lack of data.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the teacher did not provide additional information or sketches, which contributes to the uncertainty in solving the problem.

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Homework Statement
How to solve? I don't know how to do it as mass is not given and the distance of the spring is not given either. May be impossible to solve (teacher is not the most cautious)
Relevant Equations
P=mv
KE = 1/2mv^2
U=1/2kx^2
1/2mv^2 = 1/2mv^2 - 1/2kx^2 but can't plug in numbers for x or m

mv+mv=mv+mv but no mass given

very lost
 

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Without more information (like the two masses) you can't solve anything. Do earlier problems introduce something? Is there a sketch that might have information?

You could express all answers as function of m1 and m2, of course.
 
mfb said:
Without more information (like the two masses) you can't solve anything. Do earlier problems introduce something? Is there a sketch that might have information?

You could express all answers as function of m1 and m2, of course.

Unfortunately, my teacher didn't provide any other information besides the question found in the picture. There's no image or sketch that my teacher provided, nor do they connect to previous questions. I'm guessing that this is simply impossible to solve (other than answering as functions of m1 and etc)
 
Being in your situation, rather than giving numerical responses, I would solve each question as function of ##m_1## and ##m_2##.
 

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