Understanding Elastic Collisions: Solving a Head-On Collision Problem

In summary, the conversation discusses a collision between two identical balls, one moving north at 3 m/s and the other moving south at 2.0 m/s. The collision is elastic and the first ball moves south at 1 m/s. The question asks for the velocity of the second ball, but there is confusion about the conservation of energy in this scenario.
  • #1
cybernerd
27
0

Homework Statement



A 6 gram ball moving north at a rate of 3 m/s collides head on with an identical ball moving south at 2.0 m/s. The collision is elastic and the first ball moves south at 1 m/s. What is the velocity of the second ball?

Homework Equations



Law of conservation of momentum.
p=mv

The Attempt at a Solution



The question makes no sense to me. According to my solution guide, the other ball moves off at 2.0 m/s. But of the collision is elastic, then no energy should be wasted. So...2.0m/s worth of energy from the first ball is sucked into an abyss? Can anyone shed light on this?
 
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  • #2
Yeah I don't know about this one. Energy's definitely not conserved using the given data. Chalk it up to a miswording?
 
  • #3
I hope so, or we're getting into magic rather than physics...thanks for confirming this...
 

Related to Understanding Elastic Collisions: Solving a Head-On Collision Problem

What is an elastic collision?

An elastic collision is a type of collision between two objects where kinetic energy is conserved. This means that the total kinetic energy before and after the collision remains constant.

What is the difference between elastic and inelastic collisions?

In an elastic collision, kinetic energy is conserved while in an inelastic collision, kinetic energy is not conserved and is transferred to other forms of energy such as heat or sound.

What is the equation for calculating the velocity of an object after an elastic collision?

The equation for calculating the velocity of an object after an elastic collision is:
vf = (m1u1 + m2u2) / (m1 + m2)
where vf is the final velocity, m1 and m2 are the masses of the objects, and u1 and u2 are the initial velocities of the objects.

What are some real-life examples of elastic collisions?

Some examples of elastic collisions include billiard balls colliding on a pool table, bouncing a rubber ball on the ground, and two cars colliding and bouncing off each other without any damage.

How does the angle of collision affect the outcome of an elastic collision?

The angle of collision can affect the final velocities of the objects in an elastic collision. If the objects collide head on (at a 180 degree angle), the final velocities will be equal to the initial velocities of the objects. However, if the objects collide at an angle less than 180 degrees, the final velocities will be different from the initial velocities and will depend on the angle of collision and the masses of the objects.

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