Glancing Elastic Collison

1. Two masses, m and M are involved in a glacing collision as seen below where θ and ø= pi/2.
If M = nm what must n be such that the collision is elastic?

Remember if θ+ø=pi/2 then cos(θ)=sin(ø) and cos(ø)=sin(θ)

2. I am suppose to find an number for n.

3. ∑KEo=∑KEf
1/2m$_{1}$v$^{2}_{0}$+0=1/2m$_{1}$v$^{2}_{f1}$+1/2m$_{2}$v$^{2}_{f2}$

substitute m$_{1}$n for m$_{2}$ and cancel the 1/2m$_{1}$

v$^{2}_{o1}$=v$^{2}_{f1}$+nv$^{2}_{f2}$
n=$\frac{v^{2}_{o1}-v^{2}_{f1}}{v^{2}_{f2}}$

Not sure what to do from here please help. I know I'm probably suppose to use the θ and ø, but I'm not sure how to incorporate it.

Homework Statement

Known: M=nm, θ+ø=pi/2
Unknown: n

Homework Equations

W$_{NC}$=ΔKE+ΔPE
KE=$\frac{1}{2}$mv$^{2}$
Momentum=∑p=mv$_{f}$-mv$_{o}$

The Attempt at a Solution

PS sorry I kinda messed this up it is my first post.

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Andrew Mason
Homework Helper
1. Two masses, m and M are involved in a glacing collision as seen below where θ and ø= pi/2.
If M = nm what must n be such that the collision is elastic?

Remember if θ+ø=pi/2 then cos(θ)=sin(ø) and cos(ø)=sin(θ)

2. I am suppose to find an number for n.

3. ∑KEo=∑KEf
1/2m$_{1}$v$^{2}_{0}$+0=1/2m$_{1}$v$^{2}_{f1}$+1/2m$_{2}$v$^{2}_{f2}$

substitute m$_{1}$n for m$_{2}$ and cancel the 1/2m$_{1}$

v$^{2}_{o1}$=v$^{2}_{f1}$+nv$^{2}_{f2}$
n=$\frac{v^{2}_{o1}-v^{2}_{f1}}{v^{2}_{f2}}$

Not sure what to do from here please help. I know I'm probably suppose to use the θ and ø, but I'm not sure how to incorporate it.

Homework Statement

Known: M=nm, θ+ø=pi/2
Unknown: n

Homework Equations

W$_{NC}$=ΔKE+ΔPE
KE=$\frac{1}{2}$mv$^{2}$
Momentum=∑p=mv$_{f}$-mv$_{o}$

The Attempt at a Solution

PS sorry I kinda messed this up it is my first post.
From conservation of energy:

mv02 = nmv12 + mv22

which can be rewritten:

(1) $v_0^2 = nv_1^2 + v_2^2$

Now draw the vectors for the initial and final momenta of each body. What is the relationship between the initial total momentum and the final total momentum?

Since the final momentum vectors are at right angles to each other, what is the length of the sum of those two vectors (i.e. the magnitude of the final total momentum)? How is that length related to the length of the initial momentum vector?

Now compare that relationship with (1).

AM

The momentum should be equal since it is elastic so I'm assuming the vector before the collision should be equal to the vectors after the collision right? So I solved for two different equations. Separated them by x and y components. I'm not sure what to solve for now. I really need help I have to present this to the class on Monday!

The momentum should be equal since it is elastic so I'm assuming the vector before the collision should be equal to the vectors after the collision right? So I solved for two different equations. Separated them by x and y components. I'm not sure what to solve for now. I really need help I have to present this to the class on Monday!
View attachment 68814

while that method will work, it is easier to follow Andrew Mason's advice and draw the diagram representing the addition of the two vectors (the momenta of the two objects after collision). Every diagram representing the addition of two vectors is a triangle. For this problem that triangle turns out to be a square triangle which allows you to use Pythagoras theorem to relate the momenta of the particles before and after the collision.

How does finding that vector help me solve for n?

It will give you another equation. right now you have only one equation $v^{2}_{o1}=v^{2}_{f1}+nv^{2}_{f2},$ but that isn't enough because you don't know the speeds.

It will give you another equation. right now you have only one equation $v^{2}_{o1}=v^{2}_{f1}+nv^{2}_{f2},$ but that isn't enough because you don't know the speeds.

Okay so is this correct? Can you square both sides of that equation?
Here is my attempt and now I'm stuck...

Okay so is this correct? Can you square both sides of that equation?
Here is my attempt and now I'm stuck...
View attachment 68815

You're almost there. Your triangle looks right, but you labeled it with speeds v. speed isn't a conserved quantity. you should've labeled the triangle with momenta p where p = mv. Momentum is a conserved quantity.

When I change it to momentum I think it just solves for the equation we already have right?
By the way thank you so much for helping!!! I'm sorry I'm so bad at this :/

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When I change it to momentum I think it just solves for the equation we already have right?
By the way thank you so much for helping!!!

No, not right. You get a different equation. Do it.

My attempt:

Yes, that's the equation. Now, what can be canceled out of that equation at the bottom of the page?

Andrew Mason
Homework Helper
My attempt:
View attachment 68818
Ok. So what value of n satisfies that relationship:

$v_{f1}^2 + (nv_{f2})^2 = (v_{f1}^2 + nv_{f2}^2)$

AM

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Is it just 1?

ding ding ding!!!

Sweet haha thanks you guys so much!

Andrew Mason
Homework Helper
Is it just 1?

Very good. Is that a guess? Work it out algebraically to show that n = 1 and then we will give you full marks.

AM

There is another solution. Can you see it?

I'm guessing zero so I should probably put both

Yes, it is zero, but don't guess it. Find it algebraically. Even though zero is a solution, there is something wrong with it. Can you tell what it is?

Yes I did find it algebraically, but there is something wrong because then the mass would just be zero which cant be true.

Well there are particles that are truly massless such as the photon but they are governed by relativistic formulae which are different than the ones you used, so you would have to redo your calculations. Alternatively you might say that the particle really isn't massless but has a negligible mass, in which case the angle really isn't 90 degrees, but it is close.

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I was thinking of a point particle with infinitesimal mass like that but I don't think that's what the problem is about. Thank you! I'll be back no doubt!

Andrew Mason
$v_{f1}^2 + nv_{f2}^2 = v_{f1}^2 + v_{f2}^2$?