Collision finding final velocity

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In the collision problem, a 0.30 kg baseball is pitched at 70 m/s and rebounds at 48 m/s after hitting a stationary 1.7 kg ball. Two methods yield different final velocities for the bat: 20.823 m/s using momentum conservation and 21 m/s using a shortcut formula that assumes energy conservation. The discrepancy arises because the second method presumes energy is conserved, which is not necessarily true in all collisions. Without knowing the correct final velocity, it's unclear which method is more accurate. Understanding the conditions of the collision is crucial for determining the correct approach.
mr1709
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1. A baseball of mass 0.30kg is pitched at 70m/s (fwd) at a batter. The ball knocks the stationary 1.7kg ball out of the batters hands and the ball rebounds at 48m/s (backwards). What is the final velocity of the bat as it leaves the batters hand?

variables
m1 = 0.30 vi= 70 vf = -48

m2= 1.7 vi = 0 vf = ?3. This issue i ran into in this problem is i get two different answers depending on the method used to solve.

Method one:

m1vi1 = m1vf1 + m2vf2
0.30(70) = 0.30(-48) + 1.7(vf)
vf = 20.823

Method two: Using a shortcut formula derived in textbook

for reference, this is the formula I am talking about that the book derived

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/imgmec/elacol18.gif


formula : vf2= (m2-m1)/(m2+m1) * vi2 + (2m1)/(m1 + m2) * vi1
first part of formula cancels due to vi2 being 0. Therefore:
vf2= 0.60/2 * 70
= 21 m/s

How come the answers differ? I don't have the correct answer as it wasnt given in the worksheet so I am not sure which method is correct
 
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Your second formula assumes energy is conserved in the collision. It doesn't have to be.
 
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The book claims the answer is that all the magnitudes are the same because "the gravitational force on the penguin is the same". I'm having trouble understanding this. I thought the buoyant force was equal to the weight of the fluid displaced. Weight depends on mass which depends on density. Therefore, due to the differing densities the buoyant force will be different in each case? Is this incorrect?

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