Solving a 2kg Ball Collision Problem

[kehwon]

Homework Statement

A 2.0 kg ball moving with a speed of 3.0m/s hits, elastically, an identical stationary ball as shown. If the first ball moves away with angle 30 to the original path, determine
a) the speed of the first ball after the collision.
b) the speed and direction of the second ball after the collision

Homework Equations

m1v1 + m2v2 = m1v1' + m2v2'
1/2 m1v1^2 + 1/2m2v2^2 = 1/2 m1v1'^2 + 1/2 m2v2'^2

The Attempt at a Solution

X component:
v1 = v1' + v2' (since v2 is 0, and m's are equal)

Y component:
v1' = v2' (since v1 and v2 are 0 and m's are equal)

Because of this, does this mean that the angles should be equal as well?
I'm very confused about what I can deduce and assume from the identical mass of the balls..

It'd be great if someone could point me in the right direction. Thanks!

 

[rashi]

Vx= Vcos theta and simailry Vy= Vsint heta can be used here.

 

[kehwon]

So then do I divide the two components?
Cuz I tried that,

using
X: m1(v1 - v1'cos30) = m2(v2'costheta - 0)
v1 - v1'cos30 = v2costheta

Y: m1(0 -v1'sin30) = m2(v2'sintheta - 0)
- v1'sin30 = v2'sin theta

IF I divide Y by X, I get
v1-v1'sin30 / -v1'cos30 = tantheta

Then I'm stuck again :S

 

[haruspex]

You have 3 unknowns but only 2 equations. You need to use conservation of energy as well.

 

[kehwon]

Using conservation of energy,
v1 = v1'+v2'

with the combined X and Y component equations I've been trying to solve this and came up with several crazy dead-end solutions, using different trig identities..

 

[haruspex]

Using conservation of energy,
v1 = v1'+v2'

Try squares of velocities.

 

[kehwon]

Okay,

so I have
(v1 - v1')(v1+v1') = v2'^2

which I would liek to incorporate into the x component: v1 - v1'cos30 = v2'costheta, but the cos30 is getting in the way.

I also tried putting Y component, with v2' = v1'sin30 / sin theta into the X component...

 

[haruspex]

Your two momentum equations have in them sin theta and cos theta. Can you see how to combine them in a way that eliminates theta?

 

[kehwon]

can I square the two momentum equations? then somehow combine them into sin^2theta + cos^2theta = 1?

 

[haruspex]

Yes!

 

[kehwon]

I'm having troubles linking the two. If I just add the two squard equations together, that makes sense since it would be like pythagorean theorem.

However, since theX componenti s v1 - v1'cos30 on the left side, square of that would be v1^2 - 2v1v1'cos30 + v1'^2...

 

[haruspex]

Sounds right. Why does that bother you? Now combine that with your energy equation and eliminate v₂'

 

[kehwon]

great! thanks for all your help!