Conservation of momentum and hockey puck

AI Thread Summary
In a physics problem involving two hockey pucks colliding on ice, puck A, moving at 40.0 m/s, strikes puck B, resulting in both pucks moving at different angles post-collision. The calculations reveal that puck B's speed is approximately 18.86 m/s, while puck A's speed is around 26.67 m/s. The kinetic energy lost during the collision is calculated by comparing the initial kinetic energy of puck A with the total kinetic energy of both pucks after the collision. The fraction of kinetic energy dissipated is determined to be 19.6%. This indicates that the collision is not perfectly elastic, as some energy is converted to other forms, such as heat.
Edwardo_Elric
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Homework Statement


A hockey puck B rests on a smooth ice surface and is struck by a second puck A, which was originally traveling at 40.0m/s east and is deflected 30 degrees from its original direction. Puck B acquires a velocity of -45 degrees with the original velocity of A.
THe pucks have the same mass.
a.) Compute the speed of each puck after the collision.
b.) What fraction of the original kinetic energy of puck A is dissipated during the collision?

Homework Equations


m_{A}v_{A1x} + m_{B}v_{B1x} = m_{A}v_{A2x} + m_{B}v_{B2x}
m_{A}v_{A1y} + m_{B}v_{B1y} = m_{A}v_{A2y} + m_{B}v_{B2y}

The Attempt at a Solution


a.)
m_{A} = m_{B}

For the x- component
m_{A}(40.0m/s) = m_{A}(V_{A} cos(30) + m_{A} V_{B} cos(315)
40.0m/s = V_{A} cos(30) + V_{B} cos(315) (Eq 1);

For the y- component
0 = m_{A}(V_{A}sin(30) + V_{B}sin(315))
(V_{A}sin(30)) = (V_{B}sin(315))
V_{A} = (V_{B}sin(315)) / [sin(30)] (Eq 2);

substituting the x- component:
40.0m/s = (V_{B}sin(315)) / [sin(30)] + V_{B} cos(315)
V_{B} = 18.86 m/s

V_{A} = 26.667 m/s
Yep i got this problem right... same as back of book


b.) HEres my problem:
What fraction of the original kinetic energy of puck A is dissipated during the collision?

what does it mean when the kinetic energy is dissipated?
K1 = 1/2(mA)(V_{A})^2 = 1/2 ( 40m/s)^2

K2 = 1/2(mA)(V_{A})^2 + 1/2(mA)(V_{B})^2 = 1/2(mA)(18.86)^2 + 1/2(mB)(26.667)^2

the answer is 0.196

thank you very much
 
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The total kinetic energy, before the two pucks collide is just the kinetic energy of the first puck. That is your K1. The total kinetic energy after the collision is the kinetic energy of two pucks added together. That is your K2. K1- K2 is the kinetic energy that is lost or "disappated". If that is not 0, the collision is not "perfectly elastic" and some energy goes into heat.
 
K1 = 1/2mA(0.40m/s)^2 = 800mA
K2 - K1 = 1/2(mA){(18.86)^2 + (26.667)^2} = 533.414 mA

i divide K2- K1 / K1 and cancel mA
i get 0.6667675 = 66.7 %

the answer at back of book : 0.196 = 19.6 %
Edit
i got it now . my answer to the velocities were all wrong:
so that is 20.706 and (29.27)
so that gives me K2 - K1 / K1 = -0.196
 
Last edited:
Edwardo_Elric said:
K1 = 1/2mA(0.40m/s)^2 = 800mA
K2 - K1 = 1/2(mA){(18.86)^2 + (26.667)^2} = 533.414 mA

This isn't K2 - K1. This is K2.
 
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