Calculating Direction and Speed Change in a Peregrine Falcon and Raven Collision

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the direction and speed change of a raven after a collision with a peregrine falcon. The falcon, weighing 600g and traveling at 20.0 m/s, collides with a 1.40 kg raven flying at 8.0 m/s at right angles. After the collision, the falcon bounces back at 5.0 m/s. Participants emphasize the need to analyze momentum vectors and apply conservation of momentum principles to determine the raven's new direction and speed post-collision.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of momentum vectors and their components
  • Familiarity with conservation of momentum equations
  • Knowledge of trigonometric functions, specifically arctan
  • Basic physics concepts related to collisions
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the conservation of momentum in two-dimensional collisions
  • Learn how to decompose vectors into x and y components
  • Explore the application of trigonometric functions in physics problems
  • Investigate real-world examples of bird collisions and their dynamics
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for physics students, educators, and anyone interested in understanding collision dynamics and momentum conservation in real-world scenarios.

Legerity
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Homework Statement



To protect their young in the nest, peregrine falcons will fly into birds of prey (such as ravens) at high speed. In one such episode, a 600g falcon flying at 20.0m/s hit a 1.40kg raven flying at 8.0m/s. The falcon hit the raven at right angles to its original path and bounced back at 5.0m/s. By what angle did the falcon change the raven's direction of motion? What was the raven's speed right after the collision?

Homework Equations


ΔP, arctan(P_y/P_x)

The Attempt at a Solution


I tried to find each individual momentum vector for the raven and falcon, then did arctan(P_fal/P_rav) to get the direction of the motion, but my answer of 47° turned out to be incorrect. Could someone please guide me on how to work out both of these problems?
 
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Remember, the momentum of the falcon is not going to come into play when finding the direction of motion of the raven. Why don't we find the x and y components of the raven's final momentum and go from there?
 
Legerity said:
I tried to find each individual momentum vector for the raven and falcon, then did arctan(P_fal/P_rav) to get the direction of the motion,
That doesn't compute the direction of anything interesting as far as I can see.
Please post all your working:
- the momentum vectors for the two birds before collision
- the conservation of momentum equations
- the raven's velocity vector after collision
(Btw, the problem composer is clearly no ornithologist!)
 

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