Solving Elastic Collisions: 25g & 10g Objects

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kimlu
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Homework Statement


A 25g object moving to the right at 20cm/s overtakes and collides elastically with a 10g object moving in the same direction at 15 cm/s. Find the velocity of each object after the collision


Homework Equations


Ʃp=Ʃp'
v1+v1'=v2+v2'


The Attempt at a Solution


First I tried to find one one of the v primes by using the momentum equation

25(20)+10(15)=25v1'+10v2' and then simplifying it to
500+150=250(v1'+v2')
650-250v1'=v2'

Afterwards I plugged this in for v2' in v1+v1'=v2+v2' and solved through to get 2.57 cm/s for v1' which I know is incorrect. I know I did something wrong in the step above but I don't know how to approach this.
 
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kimlu said:

Homework Statement


A 25g object moving to the right at 20cm/s overtakes and collides elastically with a 10g object moving in the same direction at 15 cm/s. Find the velocity of each object after the collision


Homework Equations


Ʃp=Ʃp'
v1+v1'=v2+v2'


The Attempt at a Solution


First I tried to find one one of the v primes by using the momentum equation

25(20)+10(15)=25v1'+10v2' and then simplifying it to
500+150=250(v1'+v2')
650-250v1'=v2'

Afterwards I plugged this in for v2' in v1+v1'=v2+v2' and solved through to get 2.57 cm/s for v1' which I know is incorrect. I know I did something wrong in the step above but I don't know how to approach this.

The red part is wrong.

ehild
 
ehild said:
The red part is wrong.

ehild

I'm not quite sure how to simplify that part it would help if you would tell me how :c
 
kimlu said:
I'm not quite sure how to simplify that part it would help if you would tell me how :c

25v1'+10v2' is not 250(v1'+v2'). Isolate v2' from the equation 25v1'+10v2'=650, and plug in for v2' in v1+v1'=v2+v2'.

ehild