Elastic Collision Problem. Help

AI Thread Summary
In an elastic collision problem involving two objects on a frictionless surface, object A (1 kg) moves left at 2 m/s, while object B (0.5 kg) moves right at 1 m/s. The solution requires applying the conservation of momentum and energy principles, as both are conserved in elastic collisions. It is essential to account for the direction of the initial velocities when calculating the final velocities of the objects after the collision. The discussion concludes with the original poster successfully finding the answer to the problem. Understanding these conservation laws is crucial for solving similar physics problems.
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Homework Statement


2 objects A & B rolling along a frictionless horizontal surface. object A of mass 1 kg is initially moving to the left @ 2 m/s while object B of mass 0.5 kg moves to the right @ 1 m/s. What is the velocity of each object after the collision if the collision is elastic?


Homework Equations



[m][/A][v][/A]+[m][/B][V]=[m][/A][v][/A]'+[m][V]'[SUBm][/SUB1]

The Attempt at a Solution



 
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Apply the law of conservation of momentum and law of conservation of energy. Take care that the two initial velocities are not in the same direction.
 
Since there is no net external force on the system, the momentum is conserved... and since it's also a elastic collision energy is also conserved.

The easiest way to go about this problem is to use conservation of linear momentum
7745116605c54295c6c3b696cea2d39f.png


another way of going about this is that since energy is also conserved.
bb6e6a256bd18a66718b52e694d5440c.png


Let me know how it goes...
 
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hey, thanks guys. Got the answer. phew..!:smile:
 
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