Elastic Collision of two tennis balls

Click For Summary
In an elastic collision between a table-tennis ball and a stationary bowling ball, the table-tennis ball can have a smaller magnitude of momentum while possessing greater kinetic energy after the collision. This occurs because the mass of the bowling ball is significantly larger, leading to a greater conservation of momentum overall. The kinetic energy of the table-tennis ball remains higher due to its initial velocity and the nature of elastic collisions. When considering a scenario where the bowling ball does not move, the table-tennis ball still retains more kinetic energy than the bowling ball. This highlights the unique dynamics of elastic collisions involving objects of vastly different masses.
Physicsnuubie
Messages
10
Reaction score
0
Hi, I came across this question which i couldn't figure out why the kinetic energy of the table-tennis ball is greater than the bowling ball after collision.

Qn:
A table-tennis ball is thrown at a stationary bowling ball. The table-tennis ball makes a one-dimensional elastic collision and bounces back along the same line. After the collision, compared to the bowling ball, the table-tennis ball has (a) a larger magnitude of momentum and more kinetic energy (b) a smaller magnitude of momentum and more kinetic energy (c) a larger magnitude of momentum and less kinetic energy (d) a smaller magnitude of momentum and less kinetic energy (e) the same magnitude of momentum and the same kinetic energy..

Answer is b.

I understand why momentum is smaller. So you can actually skip explaining that part to me. Thank you very much!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Take the limit of a bowling ball that is so heavy that it does *not* move at all when the tennis ball hits it. Does the tennis ball have more kinetic energy than the bowling ball?
 

Thread 'Mousetrap Car Energy efficiency'

For simple comparison, I think the same thought process can be followed as a block slides down a hill, - for block down hill, simple starting PE of mgh to final max KE 0.5mv^2 - comparing PE1 to max KE2 would result in finding the work friction did through the process. efficiency is just 100*KE2/PE1. If a mousetrap car travels along a flat surface, a starting PE of 0.5 k th^2 can be measured and maximum velocity of the car can also be measured. If energy efficiency is defined by...
View full post »

Similar threads

High School Understanding Physics for Coding Collision of 2 Balls
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
4K
Simulating an elastic bouncy ball
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
Momentum, Energy, and Elastic Collisions
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
High School The physics of flywheel launchers (like tennis ball shooters)
  • · Replies 60 ·
3
Replies
60
Views
5K
Undergrad Work Done/Energy Transferred in One Dimensional Collision
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
High School Why is KE not conserved when momentum is?
  • · Replies 53 ·
2
Replies
53
Views
5K
Undergrad Elastic collision between two spheres
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Undergrad Question about Momentum vs. Kinetic Energy vs. Deforming In Collisions
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
High School Conservation of momentum in a closed system
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Spin created due to an Elastic Collision of two solid balls
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K