Perfectly inelastic collision (distance)

AI Thread Summary
In a perfectly inelastic collision on a frictionless surface, the initial momentum of the moving object is conserved when it collides with a stationary object. To find the distance traveled after the collision, one must first identify any forces acting against the motion, as these will affect the system's acceleration. If no opposing forces are present, the objects will continue moving indefinitely. For scenarios involving slopes, like a 37-degree incline, the net force must be calculated to determine the system's acceleration. By using the final velocity and acceleration, the distance traveled can then be computed.
complexc25
Messages
12
Reaction score
0
Lets say an object with an initial velocity collides with a still object. Collision is perfectly inelastic and the surface is frictionless. How can i know how far it traveled?
I solved for the sum of P final = the sum of P initial, but then i don't know how to relate to distance, all i have is velocity.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I have the same problem, but my problem has an upward slope of 37 degrees that the objects (connected after collision) travel up. I wish i knew how to do this!
 
First you need to determine what will slow down the combined mass system. If there is nothing acting against the motion, then the motion will not stop. Once you've determined the net force acting on the system, you can determine the acceleration of the system, and using your newfound velocity, you can find the distance travelled.
 
Kindly see the attached pdf. My attempt to solve it, is in it. I'm wondering if my solution is right. My idea is this: At any point of time, the ball may be assumed to be at an incline which is at an angle of θ(kindly see both the pics in the pdf file). The value of θ will continuously change and so will the value of friction. I'm not able to figure out, why my solution is wrong, if it is wrong .
TL;DR Summary: I came across this question from a Sri Lankan A-level textbook. Question - An ice cube with a length of 10 cm is immersed in water at 0 °C. An observer observes the ice cube from the water, and it seems to be 7.75 cm long. If the refractive index of water is 4/3, find the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. I could not understand how the apparent height of the ice cube in the water depends on the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. Does anyone have an...
Back
Top