Three dimensional collision with bowling ball and pin.

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around solving a physics problem involving a bowling ball and a pin after a collision. The ball, moving at 15.0 m/s and having eight times the mass of a pin, strikes the pin, which then moves off at a 75° angle. Participants express confusion about how to apply conservation of momentum and energy equations to find the pin's speed, the ball's speed post-collision, and the angle of deflection. Suggestions include writing down the relevant equations before substituting values and considering the problem as two-dimensional due to the lack of vertical information. Overall, the focus is on clarifying the application of physics principles to solve the problem effectively.
unrulypanda
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Homework Statement


In order to convert a tough split in bowling, it is necessary to strike the pin a glancing blow as shown in the figure. Assume that the bowling ball, initially traveling at 15.0 m/s, has eight times the mass of a pin and that the pin goes off at 75° from the original direction of the ball.

9-49.gif


(a) Calculate the speed of the pin.
(b) Calculate the speed of the ball just after collision.
(c) Calculate the angle θ through which the ball was deflected. Assume the collision is elastic and ignore any spin of the ball.

Homework Equations


MbVb+MpVp=MbVB+MpVP (Mb=mass of ball, Mp=mass of pin, Vp=initial velocity for pin, VP=final velocity for pin, Vb=initial velocity for ball, VB=final velocity for ball.)


The Attempt at a Solution


I have no idea how to even attempt this problem.
 
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Try writing down your Conservation of Momentum equations
 
Should I write down the formula first? Should I plug in the numbers and continue trying to cancel out unknown variables? The conservation of energy and momentum equations are realllllly long -_-
 
I would like too bump this-I have the same question!
I tried so far using the p=mv equation in both dimensions (since in the x direction it equals zero!), however I can't seem to solve for what they're asking…my algebraic manipulations aren't as well.
 
This is in the homework section and the forum requires you to show your working/attempt. How else can we see where you are going wrong ;-)

unrulypanda said:
Should I write down the formula first? Should I plug in the numbers and continue trying to cancel out unknown variables? The conservation of energy and momentum equations are realllllly long -_-

It's not usually a good ide to plug in the numbers early on.
 
unrulypanda said:
the bowling ball, initially traveling at 15.0 m/s, has eight times the mass of a pin and that the pin goes off at 75° from the original direction of the ball.
Hi, I do not know if the formula for balls is valid for pins, if it is ...then
you know cos λp (75°) = 0.2588 and the ratio Rm of Mb to total mass 8/9
you get quickly vp = v0* cos λ* 2R (15*0.25*16/9) = 6.9 m/s
the you can easily find all missing data (with the E and p formulas.)
 
The problem statement contains no information on the vertical dimension so this is really a 2D problem.
 
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