# Hockey puck momentum problem

1. Oct 7, 2008

### nsaZn23

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
A hockey puck moving at 0.43 m/s collides elastically with another puck that was at rest. The pucks have equal mass. The first puck is deflected 35° to the right and moves off at 0.36 m/s. Find the speed and direction of the second puck after the collision.

2. Relevant equations
1/2mv2 + 1/2mv2 = 1/2mv2 + 1/2mv2
momentum initial = momentum final

3. The attempt at a solution
no idea

2. Oct 7, 2008

### Pyrrhus

Start by putting the equations for initial momentum and final momentum.

$$m \vec{v_{1}} + m \vec{0} = m \vec{v_{1}}' + m \vec{v_{2}}'$$

then set up the KE equations too

3. Oct 7, 2008

### LowlyPion

This would be an elastic collision.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elastic_collision#One-dimensional_Newtonian

You would want to focus on the conservation of momentum, not the conservation of energy.

In this regard you need to identify the components of the x,y velocity and add them separately to determine the components of the one you don't know. Then recombine the components to give the right answer.

4. Oct 7, 2008

### nsaZn23

uhhh i'm bad at physics can you elaborate?

5. Oct 7, 2008

### Pyrrhus

nsaZn23,

are you familiar with vectors?

the problem basically is

$$v_{1} \vec{i} + \vec{0} = v_{1}_{x}' \vec{i} + v_{1}_{y}' \vec{j} + v_{2}_{x}' \vec{i} + v_{2}_{y}' \vec{j}$$

6. Oct 8, 2008

### nsaZn23

Yeah,

I see that Mass X Velocity initial1 + Mass X Velocity initial2 = Mass X Velocity Final1 + Mass X Velocity Final2.

nevermind, i figured out how to do the problem, thanks.