Three spheres colliding and sticking at the origin

  • Thread starter Thread starter marialo
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Collision Sphere
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
Sign up Log in
2 replies · 4K views
marialo
Messages
10
Reaction score
0
I'm having trouble with this problem, can someone help:

Spheres A (m=0.02 kg), B (m=0.03 kg), and C (m=0.05 kg), are each approaching the origin as they slide on a frictionless air table. the initial velocity of A is 1.5 m/s horizontally to the left and the x and y components of B's velocity are 0.25 m/s horizontally to the left and 0.433 m/s downward . all three spheres arrive at the origin at the same time and stick together. what must the x and y components of the initial velocity of C be if all three objects end up moving at 0.5 m/n in the +x direction after the collision?
 

Discussion

Physics news on Phys.org
marialo said:
I'm having trouble with this problem, can someone help:
Spheres A (m=0.02 kg), B (m=0.03 kg), and C (m=0.05 kg), are each approaching the origin as they slide on a frictionless air table. the initial velocity of A is 1.5 m/s horizontally to the left and the x and y components of B's velocity are 0.25 m/s horizontally to the left and 0.433 m/s downward . all three spheres arrive at the origin at the same time and stick together. what must the x and y components of the initial velocity of C be if all three objects end up moving at 0.5 m/n in the +x direction after the collision?
Show us your work. What is the principle or physical law that applies here?

AM
 
Try writing the momenutm equations in the x and y directions.

Consider the total kinetic energy before = total kinetic energy after.