Understanding Force and Momentum in Angular Elastic Collisions

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around understanding force and momentum in the context of angular elastic collisions, particularly focusing on the behavior of momentum before and after the impact of a sphere. Participants are exploring the implications of kinetic energy conservation and the calculation of changes in momentum.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are attempting to determine the change in momentum and its direction, with some questioning how to accurately represent this change vectorially. There is also discussion about the force acting on the sphere during the collision and its direction.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with various interpretations being explored regarding the change in momentum and the calculation methods. Some participants are providing guidance on vector subtraction and the correct approach to visualizing momentum changes, though there is no explicit consensus on the correct method yet.

Contextual Notes

There appears to be confusion regarding the representation of momentum vectors and the implications of the collision being elastic. Participants are also questioning the behavior of momentum parallel to the wall, indicating potential gaps in understanding the scenario.

PhysicS FAN
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Homework Statement
In the elastic collision (of the image) the sphere has a mass m=1kg and the angles that the object meets and leaves the wall are 60deegres. The time duration of the impact is Δt=0,01 sec and the velocity at which the sphere is moving is u=10√3 m/s. Assume √3= 1,73.

1. What is the change of the momentum
2. What is the force of the wall
Relevant Equations
ΔΚ= W, P=mu
The speed of the sphere after the impact will be the same since the collision is elastic and the kinetic energy remains the same. So the change of momentum will be given by the cosine law right? What bothers me is the second question about the force that acts on the sphere (which can be given by Δp/Δt=ΣF). I can not understand the behavour of the force at the change of direction of the sphere. What I mean is where should I draw the force?
 

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What is the direction of the change of momentum??
 
hutchphd said:
What is the direction of the change of momentum??
Well the momentum of the sphere before the collision and the momentum after create a 120 deegres angle and so the change will be the distance of the beginning of the first and the end of the last momentum arrow
 
Did the momentum parallel to the wall change?
 
PhysicS FAN said:
so the change will be the distance of the beginning of the first and the end of the last momentum arrow
this is not correct. You wish to subtract the initial vector from the final.
 
PhysicS FAN said:
the change will be the distance of the beginning of the first and the end of the last momentum arrow
As @hutchphd writes, that is incorrect; that is how to find the sum of vectors diagrammatically.
To find the change, you can draw both vectors from the origin and find the vector that goes from the end of the first to the end of the second.
 

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