# Tough problem on Elastic Collosions

1. Feb 16, 2008

1.

I was given the equation: (Va1-Vb1)=-(Vb2-Va1) I am suppose to prove this equation with algrebra as to why this is true. I can only use algebra, and can't use any numbers.

This is an equation for elastic collisions. There is an object;A and an Object;B. My teacher said the problem would take a page or more of algrebra to prove it. Anyone have any idea how to start the problem?

Any help is appricated.

2. Relevant equations We did a lab when we were given this problem, and the lab included the formula for kinetic energy. The lab showed in elastic collisions, momentum and Kinetic energy is conserved.

3. I honestly have no idea where to start.

2. Feb 16, 2008

### Staff: Mentor

What's conserved in an elastic collision?

3. Feb 17, 2008

Kinetic energy and momentum. I tried it again and I'm still lost

4. Feb 17, 2008

### Staff: Mentor

That's what you need. Hint: Start by writing both equations. Rearrange each so that all the Va terms are on one side; Vb terms on the other.

Then do a bit of algebra.

5. Feb 18, 2008

So write out the Momentum equation and the Kinetic energy equation and set them equal to each other? And the final result of that should be the equation that I first posted right?

6. Feb 18, 2008

### Staff: Mentor

You're not going to set them equal to each other (not even sure what that means!), but you will combine them. The first step is to rearrange each equation (momentum and KE) as I suggested in the last post.

7. Feb 18, 2008

For the kinetic energy equation, there is only one m and v term. Is the m and v term in the Kinetic energy equation the v1 and m1 or v2 and m2?

8. Feb 18, 2008

Ok I set them as this-
FT+m1v1=m2v2
.5m1v2squared=.5m2v2squared

Im hoping the Kinetic Energy equation is setup right. The masses cancel out in both equations. But I can't seem to get rid of FT. Also, do I combine them and than solve to get the original equation I was given?

9. Feb 18, 2008

### Staff: Mentor

Your conservation of momentum equation should look something like this:

$$m_1v_1 + m_2v_2 = m_1v_1' + m_2v_2'$$

Your conservation of energy equation should look something like this:

$$1/2m_1v_1^2 + 1/2m_2v_2^2 = 1/2m_1v_1'^2 + 1/2m_2v_2'^2$$

That's your starting point. As a first step towards combining these equations, I recommend that you rewrite each equation, putting the terms relating to m1 on the left and the terms relating to m2 on the write.

Do that and we'll see what's next.

10. Feb 18, 2008

Ok for the initial equation, when I moved stuff around, I found that vb1=vb2. The final result I got was vb1(va1-vb1)=-vb2(vb2-va2). The vb1 and vb2 part is proved from what I first said, and what's left is the orginal equation.

Can anyone see if this makes sense?

11. Feb 18, 2008

Ok, i'll try and do what you just posted to see how that works out

12. Feb 18, 2008

Ok, I got:

ma(Va1squared-va2squared)=mb(vb2squared-vb1squared)

I got all the ma and mb terms to their respective sides.

Now do I combine that with the KE equation? Would the Ke equation be:
.5ma1va1=.5mb1vb2 ?

Since object A's intial velocity/momentum has Kinetic energy, but when it hits object b, its Kinetic energy gets transfered to object b, so object b's intial would have no Kinetic energy, but when it gets hit, it does?

13. Feb 18, 2008

### Staff: Mentor

Good. That's the rearranged KE equation. Now do the same for the momentum equation.

14. Feb 18, 2008

Ok after trying it your way, it seems I may have copied the original equation wrong.

Is it va1-vb1=-vb2-va2 as opposed to the one I first posted, where it is va1 on the right side instead of va2?

The va1 on the left and right side doesn't seem to make sense, so I think I posted the wrong intial equation.

15. Feb 18, 2008

### Staff: Mentor

16. Feb 18, 2008

Is there a paranthesis on the right side?

17. Feb 18, 2008

I keep getting va1-vb1=vb2-va2, I can't seem to get vb2 to be negative.

18. Feb 18, 2008

### Staff: Mentor

The equation you want to prove, using your notation, is:
va1-vb1 = vb2-va2 = - (va2 - vb2)

Note that va1 - vb1 is the relative velocity of one mass with respect to the other. The equation you are trying to prove states that the relative velocity reverses in an elastic collision.

19. Feb 18, 2008

### Staff: Mentor

That's the one you want! If you've gotten that far, you're done.
Good thing!

20. Feb 18, 2008