# Metal ball sticks to putty. Where does the energy go?

1. Nov 13, 2008

### Subrosian

A 6.0kg metal ball moving at 4.0m/s hits a 6.0 kg ball of putty at rest and sticks to it. The two go on at 2.0 m/s.
a) How much energy does the metal ball lose in the collision?
b) How much energy does the putty ball gain in the collision?
c) What happened to the rest of the energy?

For a):
$$E_{klose} = E_{k} - E_{k'}$$
$$E_{k} = 1/2mv^2 = 1/2(6.0kg)(4.0m/s)^2 - 1/2(6.0kg)(2.0m/s)^2 = 36J$$

Another method I tried was:

$$W = F \Delta d =m( \Delta v/ \Delta t)*(v_{f}+v_{i})/2* \Delta t =6.0kg(-2m/s)*(3m/s) =-36J$$

b) is simple:
$$E_{k} = 1/2mv^2 = 1/2(6.0kg)(2.0m/s)^2 = 12J$$

The only problem I have with this question is the last part, C. The thing is, the momentum was conserved completely, so the energy could not be lost from friction or sound. Here is an example of trying to find the velocity of the ball and putty combined if no energy was lost to heat/sound/friction/etc:

$$1/2(6.0kg)(v)^2 + 1/2(6.0kg)(v)^2 = 1/2(6.0kg)(4.0m/s)^2$$
$$2v^2 = 48J*2/6.0kg$$
$$v = \sqrt{8}$$

Which is impossible because of
$$mv = m^{'}v^{'}$$
$$6.0kg*4.0m/s = 12.0kg*\sqrt{8}m/s$$
Which is clearly unequal.

I asked this question to my teacher and he said that the conservation of energy does not always work. That is a ridiculous answer :uhh:

Last edited: Nov 13, 2008
2. Nov 13, 2008

### DaveC426913

I'm not sure why you say no energy will be lost to heat. The deformation of the putty will warm it up.

3. Nov 13, 2008

### Subrosian

If energy was lost to heat, then why is the momentum the same?

4. Nov 13, 2008

### borgwal

Conservation of momentum and conservation of total energy are independent laws of physics.

Energy isn't lost, it's just converted into other forms of energy, such as heat.

What is "lost" in this particular problem is the kinetic energy associated with the center-of-mass motions of the two balls.

The center-of-mass momentum is, by definition, always equal to the total momentum of the system. But the center-of-mass energy is not the same as the total energy.

5. Nov 13, 2008

### Subrosian

So, if the center of mass energy is not the same as the total energy, does that mean the answers to a) and b) are incorrect as well? They are also in the answer key.

6. Nov 14, 2008

### borgwal

The question is phrased wrongly: you answered correctly, but "energy" should be replaced by "kinetic energy", or "mechanical energy".

Given the way the question is phrased, and given your teacher's answer, I doubt he knows a lot of physics.

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