Calculating Tension Force After Elastic Collision

AI Thread Summary
In an elastic collision, both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved, which means the velocities of the colliding balls can be determined post-collision. To find the tension force affecting the hanging ball (mass m2) after the collision, it is essential to calculate its velocity first. The velocity of the smaller ball (mass m1) after the collision is not needed to determine the tension force on m2. The tension can be calculated using the speed of m2 immediately after the collision. Understanding these principles allows for accurate calculations of the tension force in this scenario.
A. Aspart
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A ball (mass m1 = 2 kg, velocity v = 5 m/s [the ball moves horizontally]) collides with another ball (mass m2 = 8 kg) which is hanging on a string (length l = 1.35 m). The collision is completely elastic. What is the tension force affecting the ball (m2) immediately after the collision?

I have a hard time understanding how to solve this since it’s an elastic collision. Aren’t momentum and kinetic energy conserved in an elastic collision? If so, wouldn’t I need to know the velocity of the smaller ball after the collision in order to solve the problem since the velocity of the smaller ball after the collision can’t be zero or the kinetic energy wouldn’t be conserved?

All help is much appreciated.
 
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You don't need the speed of m1 to solve the problem. But it does have a speed, sure.
Using conservation of momentum and of kinetic energy you can find the two speeds after collision.
To calculate the tension you only need the speed after collision for the ball attached to the string.
 

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