Two metal balls with the same mass hang so that they are touching each other. The ball on the left is pulled to the side and released what will happen when it swings back. Hits the ball on the right.
When the ball on the left is pulled to the side and released, it will swing like a pendulum. As it swings back towards the ball on the right, several scenarios can occur depending on the specific conditions.
1. Elastic Collision: If the collision is perfectly elastic, meaning there is no loss of kinetic energy, the ball on the left will collide with the ball on the right. As a result, the ball on the left will come to a stop briefly due to the collision, and the ball on the right will gain momentum and swing away in the opposite direction. This process will repeat back and forth, with the balls continuously colliding with each other and exchanging momentum until eventually coming to rest.
2. Inelastic Collision: If the collision is inelastic, meaning there is some loss of kinetic energy, the ball on the left will collide with the ball on the right. In this case, both balls will stick together upon collision and continue swinging as a combined system. The final swing will be lower than the previous swings due to the loss of energy during the collision. The combined system will continue to swing back and forth, gradually losing height until it comes to a stop.
The specific outcome depends on factors such as the masses of the balls, initial velocities, and the nature of the collision. The conservation of momentum and energy principles will determine the final result.