Calculate Magnitude of Target Body Momentum After Projectile Collision

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a collision between a projectile and a stationary target body, focusing on the conservation of momentum. The projectile has a mass of 1.9 kg and approaches the target at a speed of 4.8 m/s, deflecting at an angle of 59.6° with a post-collision speed of 3.0 m/s. The goal is to determine the magnitude of the target body's momentum after the collision.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the conservation of momentum and the need to separate momentum into components. There are attempts to calculate initial and final momentum values, but some participants express uncertainty about the next steps and the correct application of equations.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided calculations for momentum before and after the collision, while others suggest the need for two separate equations to account for momentum components in different directions. There is an ongoing exploration of how to set up these equations correctly.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the importance of keeping track of the variables and their respective subscripts, indicating potential confusion in the setup of the equations. There is also mention of needing to consider both parallel and perpendicular momentum components.

kbyws37
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A projectile of mass 1.9 kg approaches a stationary target body at 4.8 m/s. The projectile is deflected through an angle of 59.6° and its speed after the collision is 3.0 m/s. What is the magnitude of the momentum of the target body after the collision?

Here momentum is conserved so Pi = Pf

3m/s*1.9kg*sin(59.6) = 4.92
3m/s*1.9kg*cos(59.6) = 2.88

i plugged it into
M1V1i + M2V2i = M1V1f + M2V2f
(1.9)(4.8) + M2V2i = 4.92 + 2.88
9.12 + M2V2i = 7.8
M2V2i = 1.32

however, my answer is wrong and i think it's b/c i plugged in numbers incorrectly.
 
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kbyws37 said:
A projectile of mass 1.9 kg approaches a stationary target body at 4.8 m/s. The projectile is deflected through an angle of 59.6° and its speed after the collision is 3.0 m/s. What is the magnitude of the momentum of the target body after the collision?

Here momentum is conserved so Pi = Pf

3m/s*1.9kg*sin(59.6) = 4.92
3m/s*1.9kg*cos(59.6) = 2.88

i plugged it into
M1V1i + M2V2i = M1V1f + M2V2f
(1.9)(4.8) + M2V2i = 4.92 + 2.88
9.12 + M2V2i = 7.8
M2V2i = 1.32

however, my answer is wrong and i think it's b/c i plugged in numbers incorrectly.
You need to keep your "1"s and "2"s and your "i"s and "f"s straight. You should have 2 equations. One for the direction the projectile was moving before collision, and one for the perpendicular direction.
 
Before collision
m1v1 = (1.9)(4.8) = 9.12

After collision
3m/s*1.9kg*sin(59.6) = 4.92
which is in the perpendicular direction

i'm not quite sure what to do next
 
kbyws37 said:
Before collision
m1v1 = (1.9)(4.8) = 9.12

After collision
3m/s*1.9kg*sin(59.6) = 4.92
which is in the perpendicular direction

i'm not quite sure what to do next
The sum of the momentum components perpendicular to the initial momentum must be zero. The sum of the momentum components parallel to the initial momentum must equal the initial momentum. Write the momentum components for the target in terms of an unknown angle, and write two equations, one for the sum of the parallel components and one for the sum of the perpendicular components.
 

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