How to find resulting velocity in a perfectly elastic collision?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the resulting velocity in a perfectly elastic collision, focusing on the principles of conservation of momentum and energy. Participants are exploring the implications of these principles in their calculations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are attempting to apply the conservation of momentum but are questioning the inclusion of unknown variables in their equations. There is a discussion about the necessity of incorporating the conservation of kinetic energy in addition to momentum for a perfectly elastic collision.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on the need for an additional equation to eliminate unknowns, specifically emphasizing the importance of kinetic energy conservation. There is recognition that while the momentum equations are correctly formulated, they may not lead to a complete solution without addressing the energy aspect.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that only certain variables (m, M, and u) are allowed in the final answer, which raises questions about how to properly eliminate other variables like v1 and v2 from their equations.

haha0p1
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Homework Statement
A particle of mass m travelling with velocity u collides elastically and head-on with a stationary particle of mass M. Which expression gives the velocity of the particle of mass M after the collision.
Relevant Equations
Momentum=Mass×Velocity
Using principle of conservation of momentum:
m×u=m×v1 + M×v2
Where m=mass of moving particle in the beginning
u=Initial velocity of particle m
v1= final velocity of particle m
v2=velocity of object M
m×u-(mv1)=Mv2
(mu-mv1)÷M=v2
My answer is this (mu-mv1)÷M
However, it is nowhere close to the correct answer. Kindly tell where I am going wrong in the calculation.
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You should not have v1 in the answer since that is also unknown. You have not used that the collision is perfectly elastic.
 
haruspex said:
You should not have v1 in the answer since that is also unknown. You have not used that the collision is perfectly elastic.
I have used V1 im the equation because the initial momentum is equal to final momentum and V1 is a part of the final momentum.
 
haha0p1 said:
I have used V1 im the equation because the initial momentum is equal to final momentum and V1 is a part of the final momentum.
There's nothing wrong with it as an equation, but it is not acceptable as an answer. Only m, M and u are allowed. To eliminate v1 you need another equation, the equation for energy conservation.
 
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Using principle of conservation of momentum:
mu=(m×v-u)+M×v
mu-m(v-u)=M×v
-mv÷M=v

Note:
m=mass of the initially moving object
v=velocity of object woth mass M
x-u=Velocity of object m after the collision

I have used a different method but I am still getting a wrong answer.
 
If the different method does not include kinetic energy conservation as @haruspex suggested, you will keep getting a wrong answer. The initial momentum conservation equation you had
haha0p1 said:
m×u-(mv1)=Mv2
is correct so leave it alone. Be sure to use subscripts to avoid confusion.
 
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