Calculating Final Velocities in an Elastic Collision on an Air Track

[stevethepirat]

Homework Statement

A 0.147 glider is moving to the right on a frictionless, horizontal air track with a speed of 0.870 . It has a head-on collision with a 0.292 glider that is moving to the left with a speed of 2.20 . Suppose the collision is elastic. What is the magnitude of the final velocity of both
carts after the collision?

Homework Equations

M1U1+M2U2=M1V1+M2V2

The Attempt at a Solution

I can setup the equation and determine the direction both carts are traveling after the collision but with 2 unknowns for the final speeds I don't know how to find the exact speed each is traveling after the collision.

 

[PhanthomJay]

If th collision is perfectly elastic, there is a 2nd equation you can use. What else is conserved besides momentum in an elastic collision?

 

[stevethepirat]

Wouldn't Kinetic energy also be conserved?

 

[PhanthomJay]

Wouldn't Kinetic energy also be conserved?

yes, sure

 

[stevethepirat]

ok so I would set the initial kinetic energy equal to the final kinetic energy and solve for the velocity right?

 

[PhanthomJay]

ok so I would set the initial kinetic energy equal to the final kinetic energy and solve for the velocity right?

you'd have to sove the 2 equations with 2 unknowns for the velocities...as I recall, it is a little tricky..but nonetheless, solvable.