Rise in temperature after a collision

AI Thread Summary
In a head-on collision between a mass m moving with velocity v and a mass 2m at rest, the coefficient of restitution is 1/3. The momentum conservation equation is established, leading to the final velocity of the 2m body being v2F = 2v/3. The heat generated in the collision is assumed to be shared equally, allowing for the calculation of temperature rise in the 2m body. The derived formula for the temperature change is ΔT = 2v^2/9c, but the poster encounters a discrepancy, expecting a factor of 2/27 instead. Clarification is sought on the use of the minus sign in the momentum equation and the accuracy of the calculations.
runningninja
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Homework Statement


"A body of mass m, moving with velocity v, collides with a body of mass 2m at rest, in a head-on collision. The coefficient of restitution is 1/3. If the 2m body has a specific heat c, and if it is assumed that the two bodies share the heat generated in the collision equally (not a very reasonable assumption), and that no heat is lost (a ridiculous assumption), how much does the temperature of the 2m body rise? (Keep fractions throughout in solution.)"

Homework Equations


$$\text{Coefficient of restitution}\ =~e~= \frac{v_{2F} - v_{1F}}{v_{1I} - v_{2I}}$$
$$p_I = p_F$$
$$\Delta K_2 = Q_2$$

The Attempt at a Solution


Since it is head on, this is a one dimensional problem, with ##v_{2I} = 0## and ##v_{1I} = v##. I started off by resolving my momentum equation into
$$mv = -mv_{1F} + 2mv_{2F}$$
(1) ##v_{1F} = 2v_{2f} - v##
I then set my restitution equation equal to 1/3 and substituted (1) in.
\frac{1}{3}\ = \frac{v_{2f} - 2v_{2f} + v}{v}

Which simplifies to

(2) $$ v_{2F} = \frac{2v}{3} $$

I then expand my Q equation to

(3) $$ \frac{1}{2}\ 2 m (v_{2f})^2 = 2 m c \Delta T $$

I then plug (2) into (3) and solve for ## \Delta T ## :

$$ \Delta T\ = \frac{2v^2}{9c} $$

However, the answer has a fraction of 2/27 rather than 2/9. I'm off by a factor of a third, and I don't know why.
 
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runningninja said:
I started off by resolving my momentum equation into
$$mv = -mv_{1F} + 2mv_{2F}$$

Why the minus sign?
 
voko said:
Why the minus sign?

Because it is a one dimensional collision. The first object has to bounce backwards because there is no other place for it to go. Even if I omit the minus sign, I get 8/81 for the fraction.
 
runningninja said:
Because it is a one dimensional collision. The first object has to bounce backwards because there is no other place for it to go.

It does not have to go backward. It can continue forward at a reduced speed. You do not have to guess what is going to happen. Use the equations.

Even if I omit the minus sign, I get 8/81 for the fraction.

Then you must have made another error somewhere. Show your new derivation.
 
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