What is the maximum height reached by the other ball after collision?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rasine
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Balls Collison
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Start your own thread to ask a follow-up.
4 replies · 4K views
Rasine
Messages
208
Reaction score
0
Two identical steel balls, each of mass 1.4 kg, are suspended from strings of length 36 cm so that they touch when in their equilibrium position. We pull one of the balls back until its string makes an angle q = 36° with the vertical and let it go. It collides elastically with the other ball. How high will the other ball rise?

ok so what i am using is pi=pf and ei=ef

first i calcuate the velocity of of th first ball when it is just about to hit the second which is
mgh=1/2mv^2
(1.4)(9.8)36cos36=1/2(1.4)v^2

then v=23.89

so pi=pf of the system so m1v1+m2v2=m1v1f+m2v2f

which is (1.4)(23.89)+0=0+1.4v2f

so v2f=23.89 and if that is true, wouldn't ball 2 go as high as ball 1?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Rasine said:
first i calcuate the velocity of of th first ball when it is just about to hit the second which is
mgh=1/2mv^2
(1.4)(9.8)36cos36=1/2(1.4)v^2

Reconsider the red step.
 
Rasine said:
would it be 36sin56 instead?

I suggest you draw a diagram on this one.
 
well i want to find the length in the y direction and i see 2 ight triangles i could get y from 36cos36 or take 90-36=56 and do 36sin56