Conservation of momentum and hockey puck

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving the conservation of momentum and kinetic energy in a collision between two hockey pucks on a smooth ice surface. The original poster describes the initial conditions, including the velocities and angles of deflection for both pucks, and poses questions regarding the speeds after the collision and the fraction of kinetic energy dissipated.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the calculations for momentum conservation in both x and y components, questioning the interpretation of kinetic energy dissipation. There are attempts to derive expressions for kinetic energy before and after the collision, with some participants expressing confusion about the concept of energy dissipation.

Discussion Status

Several participants are actively engaging with the problem, providing calculations and discussing the implications of their results. There is recognition of discrepancies in the calculated velocities and kinetic energy values, with some participants revising their earlier answers based on feedback. The discussion is ongoing, with no consensus reached yet.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of a homework assignment, which may limit the information available for the problem. There is a focus on understanding the definitions and implications of kinetic energy in the context of elastic and inelastic collisions.

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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