Simple part of a hard problem involving momentum/kinetic energy conservation

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a problem involving momentum and kinetic energy conservation related to two suspended balls, where one ball is released from a height and collides with another. The original poster seeks to determine the velocity of the lighter ball before impact and the maximum height of each ball after an elastic collision.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster describes their calculations for the velocity of ball A and expresses uncertainty about the speed of ball B. They mention using conservation equations but struggle with calculating the heights after the collision. Some participants question the methods used to find the initial speed of mass A and suggest that different principles may apply to the various parts of the problem.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants seeking clarification on the problem setup and the methods used. There is a focus on ensuring that the correct principles are applied to both parts of the problem, with no clear consensus yet on the approach to finding the maximum heights.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the absence of a referenced figure in the initial posts, which may be crucial for understanding the problem setup. There is also mention of a quadratic equation arising from the conservation equations, indicating complexity in the calculations.

anightlikethis
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"Simple" part of a hard problem involving momentum/kinetic energy conservation

Two balls, of masses mA = 36 g and mB = 64 g are suspended as shown in Figure 7-44. The lighter ball is pulled away to a 60° angle with the vertical and released.
(a) What is the velocity of the lighter ball before impact? (Take the right to be positive.)
c) What will be the maximum height of each ball (above the collision point) after the elastic collision?

I found the velocity for ball A which I know to be correct -.48 m/s with the kinetic energy and momentum conservation equations, and also the ball B speed 1.23 which I'm not sure about. The part I'm having problems with is the heights. I've been told to use this equation: mgh=1/2mv^2, but this equation gives me .01 for Ball A which is not correct. What am I doing wrong?
 
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You need to describe the problem in more detail. Where's the figure, for example?

How did you find the initial speed of mass A just before the collision?
 
Here is the image
I hope...
http://www.webassign.net/giancoli/7-44fig.gif
I found that velocity by solving the momentum conservation equation mav=mav1 + mbv2 for v2 and plugging into the kinetic energy conservation equation 1/2mav^2=1/2mav1^2+1/2mbv2^2
This became a quadratic equation which I solved, and then plugged v1 back into the equation for v2 that I found.
 
We must be talking about different things. I asked how you found the speed of mass A just before the collision--which is the answer to part (a). That answer is not found using conservation of momentum or kinetic energy.

My point is that the same principle used to solve (a) can be used to solve (c).
 

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