# Oblique collisions

1. May 13, 2010

### Tiddlypeeps

Hi, I am in the process of doing up a physics simulation in 2D OpenGL where balls bounce around the place, colliding with planes and themselves.

I have everything done except the collisions between the balls themselves. I can detect a collision but I am finding it hard to find any sort of documentation on how to find the new velocities of both balls.

Can anyone help me out?

I hope this is posted in the right forum >_<

2. May 13, 2010

### HallsofIvy

I presume you mean the velocities after the collision- use "conservation of momentum" and "conservation of energy".

If one object has mass $m_1$ and velocity vector $<v_{1x}, v_{1y}, v_{1z}>$ (before the collision) and the other has mass $m_2$ and velocity vector $<v_{2x}, v_{2y}, v_{2z}>$ (before the collision), then the velocity vectors after the collision, $<u_{1x}, u_{1y}, u_{1z}>$ and $<u_{2x}, u_{2y}, u_{2z}>$ must satisfy:

(conservation of momentum) $m_1(<v_{1x}, v_{1y}, v_{1z}+ m_2<v_{2x}, v_{2y}, v_{2z}>$$= m_1<u_{1x}, u_{1y}, u_{1z}>+ m_2<u_{2x}, u_{2y}, u_{2z}>$
That gives scalar (numerical) equations, $m_1v_{1x}+ m_2v_{2x}= m_1u_{1x}+ m_2u_{2x}$, $m_1v_{1y}+ m_2v_{2y}= m_1u_{1y}+ m_2u_{2y}$, and $m_1v_{1z}+ m_2v_{2z}= m_1u_{1z}+ m_2u_{2z}$.

(conservation of energy) $m_1(v_{1x}^2+ v_{1y}^2+ v_{1z}^2)+ m_2(v_{2x}^2+ v_{2y}^2+ v_{2z}^2)$$= m_1(u_{1x}^2+ u_{1y}^2+ u_{1z}^2)+ m_2(u_{2x}^2+ u_{2y}^2+ u_{2z}^2)$.

This is not a mathematics question so much as a physics question. I suggest you post in the "general physics" section.

3. May 13, 2010

### Tiddlypeeps

I have seen this equation a few times before, I am not entirely sure how to use it to deciper V1 and V2.

I have the variables M1, M2, U1 and U2, but that still leaves 2 unknows in the equation, V1 and V2. How do I solve these?

4. May 13, 2010

### Redbelly98

Staff Emeritus
Moderator's note: I have moved the thread to "General Physics".
Hmm, it's actually 4 unknowns, V1x, V1y, V2x and V2y. But only 3 equations,
• Conservation of x-component of momentum
• Conservation of y-component of momentum
• Conservation of kinetic energy
It would seem one more equation or piece of information is required to solve the problem. I'll have to think about this some more, or maybe somebody else can chime in.

p.s. welcome to Physics Forums

5. May 13, 2010

### Redbelly98

Staff Emeritus

Since you can detect a collision, I take it you can locate the positions of the balls' centers at the time of contact? If yes, then define a vector from one ball's center to the other ball's center. The velocity components perpendicular to this direction will be unchanged by the collision. That adds a 4th equation (in addition to momentum x & y, and kinetic energy conservation) to solve for the 4 unknowns I listed in my previous post.

Here I am assuming smooth (frictionless) surfaces. Hope that helps ... you'll need to work out the math from my description.

6. May 14, 2010

### dulrich

In your simulation, are all the masses the same? If so, the equations simplify tremendously.

The balls reflect off the plane that is perpendicular to the line between them. The components of the velocity that is in the plane will be unchanged (there is no force in this direction), and the components along the line are exchanged.

Double check me, but I think that is the answer for an elastic collision when the masses are equal.

7. May 14, 2010

### Redbelly98

Staff Emeritus
Since the force and acceleration are normal to that plane, the velocity components parallel to it are unchanged regardless of the masses involved.