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Homework Help
Introductory Physics Homework Help
Two dimensional Elastic Collision
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[QUOTE="CalebB-M, post: 5607850, member: 603250"] [h2]Homework Statement[/h2] [/B] The problem statement is: A helium atom traveling at a speed of 240 m/s hits an oxygen atom at rest. If the helium atom rebounds elastically, from the oxygen atom at an angle of 90° with respect to the original direction of motion, what are the final velocities of both atoms. (hint the oxygen is approximately 4 times as massive as the helium.)[h2]Homework Equations[/h2] I understand that Momentum is conserved Pi = Pf thus m*v1i + m*v2i = m*v1f + m*v2f Energy is also conserved in an elastic collision. 1/2m * v^2 = ke[h2]The Attempt at a Solution[/h2] I can setup the coordinate system with +x being the initial direction of the helium particle. I also tried writing it in vector notation. my initial setup looked like this M*[ 240x, 0y, 0z] + 0 (because it is at rest) = M*[0x,sin90*|v1f|y, 0z] + 4M*[cos♤*|v2f|x,sin♤*|v2f|y, 0z] With ♤ being the unknown direction. I also attempted to find the magnitude of the velocities by CE, I found that 1/2 M *(240)^2 = 1/2M*(v1f)^2 + 2M*(v2f)^2. Canceling out the mass I found that 240^2 = v1f^2 /2 + 2*v2f^2. I am lost on the next step. Any direction would be helpful thank you! [/QUOTE]
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Two dimensional Elastic Collision
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