Calculating Puck Speed After Collision

  • Thread starter Thread starter Swatch
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Collision Speed
Click For Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the speeds of two hockey pucks after a collision, where puck A strikes puck B. Puck A initially travels at 40.0 m/s and is deflected at a 30.0° angle, while puck B moves at a 45.0° angle post-collision. The user initially set up equations based on momentum conservation but struggled to find the correct speeds, which are known to be Va2=29.3 m/s and Vb2=20.7 m/s. A key correction suggested was to remove the negative sign in the equation for Vb2, as both velocities should be positive. Following this adjustment led to the correct calculations.
Swatch
Messages
88
Reaction score
0
A hockey puck B rests on smooth ice surface and is struck by a second puck A, which was originally traveling at 40.0 m/s and which is deflected 30.0° from its original direction. Puck B acquires a velocity at a 45.0° angle to the original direction of A. The pucks have the same mass. Compute the speed of each puck after the collision.

Va2 =speed puck A after collision
Vb2 = speed puck B after collision

So far my work is:

Since the momentum is conserved for both components I did this.

Va2 = (40-Vb2*(cos(45) )/cos(30)

Vb2 = (-Va2*sin(30) )/sin(45)

Okey. I have 2 unknowns I need to find and 2 equations.
When I compute these 2 I don't get the right answer.

The right answer is Va2=29.3 and Vb2=20.7

Could someone please give me a hint to what I'm doing wrong.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Swatch said:
A hockey puck B rests on smooth ice surface and is struck by a second puck A, which was originally traveling at 40.0 m/s and which is deflected 30.0° from its original direction. Puck B acquires a velocity at a 45.0° angle to the original direction of A. The pucks have the same mass. Compute the speed of each puck after the collision.

Va2 =speed puck A after collision
Vb2 = speed puck B after collision

So far my work is:

Since the momentum is conserved for both components I did this.

Va2 = (40-Vb2*(cos(45) )/cos(30)

Vb2 = (-Va2*sin(30) )/sin(45)

Okey. I have 2 unknowns I need to find and 2 equations.
When I compute these 2 I don't get the right answer.

The right answer is Va2=29.3 and Vb2=20.7

Could someone please give me a hint to what I'm doing wrong.

It's probably that minus sign in your second equation. Your velocity variables are both positive.
 
I got
Va2 = (Va1 - Vb2cos45)/cos30
Vb2 = Va2sin30/sin45

So, I have no - (minus) in the latter equation, as the pucks, naturally, deflect in different directions.

With these equations I get the correct answers.

EDIT: I'm a slow typer.
 
Thanks guys. :approve:
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 35 ·
2
Replies
35
Views
5K
Replies
4
Views
3K
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
5K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
977
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K