How Feynman proves momentum is conserved in this example?

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

Feynman's explanation of momentum conservation during a collision of two equal masses illustrates that when two masses, each moving with velocity v in opposite directions, collide, they stop. However, when viewed from a moving reference frame, such as a car traveling at velocity -v, the dynamics change. The mass moving towards the observer appears to have a velocity of 2v, leading to the conclusion that the combined mass post-collision moves with a velocity of v/2. This transformation of coordinates and application of Galilean transformations are crucial in understanding the observed outcomes of the collision.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Newtonian mechanics and momentum conservation
  • Familiarity with Galilean transformations
  • Basic knowledge of reference frames in physics
  • Ability to interpret mathematical equations related to motion
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the principles of momentum conservation in elastic and inelastic collisions
  • Learn about Galilean transformations and their applications in classical mechanics
  • Explore reference frames and their impact on observed physical phenomena
  • Review Feynman's Lectures on Physics, specifically Volume I, Chapter 10 for deeper insights
USEFUL FOR

Physics students, educators, and anyone interested in classical mechanics and the principles of momentum conservation will benefit from this discussion.

PLAGUE
Messages
37
Reaction score
2
TL;DR
Two masses moving with same but opposite velocity will stop dead if they collide.
Here is what Feynman says, "Suppose we have two equal masses, one moving with velocity v and the other standing still, and they collide and stick; what is going to happen? There is a mass 2m altogether when we are finished, drifting with an unknown velocity. What velocity? That is the problem. To find the answer, we make the assumption that if we ride along in a car, physics will look the same as if we are standing still. We start with the knowledge that two equal masses, moving in opposite directions with equal speeds v, will stop dead when they collide. Now suppose that while this happens, we are riding by in an automobile, at a velocity -v. Then what does it look like? Since we are riding along with one of the two masses which are coming together, that one appears to us to have zero velocity. The other mass, however, going the other way with velocity v, will appear to be coming toward us at a velocity 2v. Finally, the combined masses after collision will seem to be passing by with velocity v. We therefore conclude that an object with velocity 2v, hitting an equal one at rest, will end up with velocity v, or what is mathematically exactly the same, an object with velocity v hitting and sticking to one at rest will produce an object moving with velocity v/2. "

Feynman said, "two equal masses, moving in opposite directions with equal speeds, will stop dead when they collide." If so, then the car we are riding, moving with velocity -v, and the other mass, moving with velocity v, collide, they must stop dead as their masses are same. Then why do they keep moving with half of the velocity?

https://www.feynmanlectures.caltech.edu/I_10.html
 
Physics news on Phys.org
PLAGUE said:
TL;DR Summary: Two masses moving with same but opposite velocity will stop dead if they collide.

If so, then the car we are riding, moving with velocity -v, and the other mass, moving with velocity v
That's not what Feynman said about what we see when we ride in the car moving with velocity -v.

Feynman said according to your post ( I highlighted in red the discrepancy)
PLAGUE said:
Then what does it look like? Since we are riding along with one of the two masses which are coming together, that one appears to us to have zero velocity. The other mass, however, going the other way with velocity v, will appear to be coming toward us at a velocity 2v.
 
He is doing a transformation of the coordinates. Let ##v_1\big\rvert_{t<0}## be the velocity of object 1 before the collision, ##v_2\big\rvert_{t>0}## be the velocity of object 2 after the collision, etc. Then, in the reference frame of the center of mass we have $$V_1\Big\rvert_{t<0}=V$$$$V_2\Big\rvert_{t<0}=-V$$$$V_1\Big\rvert_{t>0}=0$$$$V_2\Big\rvert_{t>0}=0$$ where the capital letters indicate quantities in the center of mass frame.

Now, if we have another frame where the center of mass is moving at ##u##, then a simple Galilean transform gives us the velocities $$v_1\Big\rvert_{t<0}=u+V_1\Big\rvert_{t<0}=u+V$$$$v_2\Big\rvert_{t<0}=u+V_2\Big\rvert_{t<0}=u-V$$$$v_1\Big\rvert_{t>0}=u+V_1\Big\rvert_{t>0}=u$$$$v_2\Big\rvert_{t>0}=u+V_2\Big\rvert_{t>0}=u$$

So, we simply apply this formula to the problem. We have before the collision that $$v_1\Big\rvert_{t<0}=u+V_1\Big\rvert_{t<0}=u+V=v$$$$v_2\Big\rvert_{t<0}=u+V_2\Big\rvert_{t<0}=u-V=0$$So we have two equations in ##u## and ##V## which we solve to get ##V=v/2## and ##u=v/2##. Then we simply plug those into the after the collision equations to obtain$$v_1\Big\rvert_{t>0}=u+V_1\Big\rvert_{t>0}=u=v/2$$$$v_2\Big\rvert_{t>0}=u+V_2\Big\rvert_{t>0}=u=v/2$$

This is what he is doing in great detail. He just glossed over the math, but this is the concept he is trying to convey.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 30 ·
2
Replies
30
Views
3K
  • · Replies 53 ·
2
Replies
53
Views
5K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
2K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
763