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justagirl
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A cart of mass M and a second cart of mass 2M collide head on elastically and bounce apart. Which cart experiences a larger magnitude of acceleration during the collision?
An elastic collision is a type of collision between two objects where both the total kinetic energy and the total momentum of the system are conserved. This means that after the collision, the objects retain their original shapes and no energy is lost to heat, sound, or deformation.
In an elastic collision, the acceleration experienced by each object depends on its mass and the force exerted on it by the other object. The object with a smaller mass will experience a larger acceleration than the object with a larger mass.
The lighter object experiences a larger acceleration in an elastic collision. This is because the force experienced by an object is directly proportional to its mass, and the lighter object has a smaller mass compared to the heavier object.
Newton's third law of motion states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In an elastic collision, the force exerted by one object on the other is equal and opposite to the force exerted by the other object. This means that the acceleration experienced by each object is also equal and opposite.
Yes, an elastic collision can occur between objects of different masses. As long as the total kinetic energy and momentum are conserved, the objects will undergo an elastic collision regardless of their masses.