Help with conservation of energy

AI Thread Summary
In an elastic collision involving two billiard balls of equal mass, the conservation of momentum and energy principles apply. The initial velocities are given as Ball A moving at 2.0 m/s along the y-axis and Ball B at 3.7 m/s along the x-axis. After the collision, Ball B moves along the positive y-axis, leaving the direction and speed of Ball A as unknowns. To solve for these, one must set up equations for momentum in both the x and y directions, while also considering kinetic energy conservation. The discussion emphasizes that finding the velocities of Ball A in both directions will ultimately reveal its final direction.
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Homework Statement


Two billiard balls move of equal mass move at right angles and meet at the origin of an xy coorindate system. Ball A is moving upward along the y-axis at 2.0m/s and ball B is moving to the right along the x-axis with a speed of 3.7m/s. After the collision, assumed elastic, ball B is moving along the positive y-axis . What is the final direction of Ball A and what is their speeds.


Homework Equations


Conservation of momentum :
MaVax+MbVbx=MaV'ax+MbV'bx

I know that the masses cancel as they are the same.
But that still leaves me with 2 unknowns in that equation. Do I have to use trig functions to fing the velociy of ball B and then use the momentum to find velocity of ball A?? but then how do i find the direction of ball A



The Attempt at a Solution

 
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In an elastic collision linear momentum and energy are conserved. You have two independent lines (x and y) so that gives you three equations ...
 
O right sorry I forgot to write out the equation for the momentum along y. so in the x equation for example Vax= 0 and simiarly for the y equation? and is the third equation the kinetic energy one?? But I am sill confused as too how i find the direction of the A Ball.
 
Don't worry about finding the direction of the A ball; if you find its velocity in the x direction and its velocity in the y direction ...
 
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