- #1
Roman.G
- 1
- 0
To simplify my question I would like to use a random example (although, the issue holds regardless of the numbers you pick). Suppose two objects collide (head-on) in one dimension. The initial parameters are as follows (units are irrelevant):
m1=1;m2=2;u1=3;u2=-4;
Also, suppose that exactly 90% of the KE is lost as a result of the collision (hence, the coefficient of restitution is sqrt(0.9)). Now I can convert both velocities into the center-of-mass frame of reference, invert them, multiply by sqrt(0.9) and convert back into the lab frame of reference to get (one of the two solutions):
v1=-6.09384 and v2=-0.54692
The problem with these numbers is: if I keep everything in the lab frame of reference and plug all these numbers into these equations (where ε=0.9):
their LHS is not equal to their RHS by quite a significant quantity.
What am I missing?
Thanks!
m1=1;m2=2;u1=3;u2=-4;
Also, suppose that exactly 90% of the KE is lost as a result of the collision (hence, the coefficient of restitution is sqrt(0.9)). Now I can convert both velocities into the center-of-mass frame of reference, invert them, multiply by sqrt(0.9) and convert back into the lab frame of reference to get (one of the two solutions):
v1=-6.09384 and v2=-0.54692
The problem with these numbers is: if I keep everything in the lab frame of reference and plug all these numbers into these equations (where ε=0.9):
their LHS is not equal to their RHS by quite a significant quantity.
What am I missing?
Thanks!