What Is the Final Velocity and Direction of Two Colliding Skaters?

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The discussion revolves around a two-dimensional collision problem involving two skaters with different masses and velocities. The original poster seeks to determine the final velocity and direction of the skaters after they collide and become tangled together.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the application of conservation of momentum principles to find the final velocity and angle after the collision. There are attempts to calculate velocity components and questions about how to derive the final angle from the results obtained.

Discussion Status

Some participants have made progress in calculating the final speed and are seeking clarification on how to determine the final angle. Guidance has been provided regarding the setup of momentum equations for both x and y components, although there is uncertainty about its applicability to finding the final angle.

Contextual Notes

There is mention of the collision being totally inelastic, and some participants are exploring different methods to calculate angles based on their findings. The discussion reflects a mix of understanding and confusion regarding the steps involved in solving the problem.

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1. A skater with a mass of 81 kg is traveling east at 6.4 m/s when he collides with another skater of mass 45 kg heading 60° south of west at 13 m/s. If they stay tangled together, what is their final velocity, and direction in degrees (south of east)



2. Vix = M1V1/M1+M2 and Viy = M2V2/M1+M2



3. for Vix = 4.11 and Viy = 4.64. I'm not sure what the next step is. please help.
 
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o.k. I figured out how to find the speed and the Vf = 4.38 m/s. Does anyone know how to figure out the final angle?

Thanks
 
This is the reply I got from my professor:
#15 is a two-dimensional collision that is totally inelastic since the objects stick together after the collision. Example 7.10 shows the solution for a similar problem, although it has one initial velocity of zero and #15 does not. Nevertheless, the example demonstrates that you set up a separate conservation of momentum equation for the x-components and a separate one for the y-components. I find it easiest to measure all angles from the positive x-axis; then the calculator automatically supplies all of the correct signs for the velocity components. For example, the velocity component in the x-direction for mass 1 before the collision is v[1,i,x] = v[1,i] cos (theta[1,i]). The velocity component in the x-direction for masss 2 after the collision is v[2,f,x] = v[2,f] cos (theta[2,f).

But I don't think it helps with finding the final angle...does it?
 
I tried to take 4.64/4.11 = 1.13. I then to the cotan of that answer to get 48.47 degrees. Am I on the right track?

Thanks
 

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