The discussion revolves around an elastic collision problem involving a ball of mass M colliding with two stationary balls of mass m. The initial conditions specify that mass M has a velocity v, while the two masses m are at rest. The goal is to determine the velocity of mass M after the collision.
The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing feedback on the notation and raising concerns about the number of equations available for the unknowns. There is no explicit consensus on the interpretation of the problem, and some participants are suggesting potential adjustments to the equations involved.
There are indications of confusion regarding the notation and the exact formulation of the problem, which may affect the participants' ability to proceed effectively. The assumption of elasticity in the collision is also under scrutiny.
The way I read it, vA, vB are given, so it's 3 equations and 2 unknowns. Still not good. Could choose to ignore the elasticity condition.Dr. Courtney said:
