Inelastic or elastic collision?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a firework that explodes into two pieces on a hockey rink, raising questions about the nature of the event—whether it should be treated as an inelastic collision or another type of collision. The context includes considerations of momentum and energy conservation in relation to the explosion.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are discussing the conservation laws applicable to the scenario, questioning whether to classify the explosion as a collision and what is conserved during the event.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different interpretations of the problem. Some have suggested that the event might be treated as elastic, while others are prompting for clarification on conservation principles.

Contextual Notes

There is uncertainty regarding the classification of the explosion and its implications for conservation laws, as well as the lack of consensus on how to approach the problem.

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A 4.0 kg firework is tossed onto a hockey rink. As it slides, it explodes into exactly two 2 kg pieces. There is an x-y coordinate system painted under the ice. One part of the exploded firework has velocity 3.0 m/s along the y direction. The other part has a velocity of 5.0 m/s at an angle of +30 degrees relative to the x-axis.
(a) What is the original speed of the firework on the ice (before the explosion)

My biggest question is that in order to solve this problem should I treat it as an inelastic collision or any collision for that matter? Since technically there is no collision, just an explosion.
 
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You need to decide what's conserved and what's not. What do you think?
 
I was thinking it was elastic.
 
seriously any help on this problem is appreciated.
 
Answer my question: What's conserved and what's not conserved?
 

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