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sodr2
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Homework Statement
If you have a mass colliding with another mass at rest and they both go off in different directions, how do you find out the velocity of the masses after the collision given the distance they travel, the angle they travel and the masses (m1 = m2). You are also told that momentum is proportional to velocity which is proportional to distance.
Homework Equations
P(total) = P(total)¹
m1v1 = m1v1¹ + m2v2¹
The Attempt at a Solution
Im guessing that the horizontal component of their velocity remains unchanged and therefore the distance they go horizontally is propotional to their horizontal velocity, but I still don't understand how you can determine the velocity of the masses with this information.
I was told that the distance the masses travel after collision represents the final momentum vectors of mass 1 & 2 because m1 = m2 and p is proportional to v, proportional to d. Could I take the distance they travel and divide it by their masses to get the velocity because p=mv?
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