- #1
louise82
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[SOLVED] Deriving the head-on collision equation in terms of v2' and v1'
I think I'm having an algebra issue here, but how is the momentum equation (where v2=0):
m1(v1-v1')=m2v2'
combined with v1+v1'=v2'
to give:
v2' = v1 [ 2m1/(m1+m2)]
and
v1' = v1 [(m1-m2)/(m1+m2)]
I'm realizing this must be an elementary question since my book doesn't actually show how they derive those equations, but I'm not seeing it.
Help someone?
I think I'm having an algebra issue here, but how is the momentum equation (where v2=0):
m1(v1-v1')=m2v2'
combined with v1+v1'=v2'
to give:
v2' = v1 [ 2m1/(m1+m2)]
and
v1' = v1 [(m1-m2)/(m1+m2)]
I'm realizing this must be an elementary question since my book doesn't actually show how they derive those equations, but I'm not seeing it.
Help someone?