Initial Velocity of Bowling Ball in Physics Problem

[uvburgos]

A bowling ball with a mass of 7kg collision with a pin in rest with a mass of 2kg, after the collision the pin acquired a velocity of 6m/s and the ball continues with a velocity of 4m/s, both to the front. What was the initial velocity of the ball?

 

[Hootenanny]

A bowling ball with a mass of 7kg collision with a pin in rest with a mass of 2kg, after the collision the pin acquired a velocity of 6m/s and the ball continues with a velocity of 4m/s, both to the front. What was the initial velocity of the ball?

As I've said previously, please show your work.

 

[Moetasim]

Based on the given information, we can use the principle of conservation of momentum to determine the initial velocity of the bowling ball. This principle states that the total momentum of a system remains constant before and after a collision.

In this case, the initial momentum of the system (bowling ball + pin) is equal to the final momentum of the system. We can express this mathematically as:

m1v1 + m2v2 = m1v1' + m2v2'

Where m1 and m2 are the masses of the bowling ball and pin respectively, and v1, v2, v1', and v2' are the initial and final velocities of the bowling ball and pin.

Plugging in the given values, we get:

(7kg)(v1) + (2kg)(0m/s) = (7kg)(4m/s) + (2kg)(6m/s)

Solving for v1, we get an initial velocity of 10m/s for the bowling ball.

Therefore, the initial velocity of the bowling ball was 10m/s before it collided with the pin. This calculation shows the importance of understanding momentum in physics and how it can be used to determine the initial conditions of a system.