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 and hits the ball on the right?
• Both balls will swing to the right.
• The ball on the right will swing to the right.
• Both balls will swing to the left.
• The ball on the left will stop, and the ball on the right will remain still.
When the ball on the left swings back and hits the ball on the right, both balls will swing to the right. This is because the kinetic energy from the left ball is transferred to the right ball upon impact, causing both balls to move in the same direction. Therefore, the correct answer is: Both balls will swing to the right.
When the ball on the left is pulled to the side and released, it will swing towards the right. Upon colliding with the ball on the right, the kinetic energy is transferred from the left ball to the right ball. As a result, the ball on the right will start swinging towards the right, while the ball on the left will come to a stop. Therefore, the correct answer is: The ball on the right will swing to the right.
To answer this question, we need to consider the principles of conservation of energy and momentum. When the ball on the left is pulled to the side and released, it will swing back and hit the ball on the right.
Initially, the ball on the left has potential energy due to its elevated position. As it swings down, this potential energy gets converted into kinetic energy. At the extreme bottom of its swing, all of this kinetic energy will be converted back into potential energy. At this point, the ball on the left will stop momentarily.
According to the principle of conservation of momentum, the total momentum of the system (the two balls) will remain constant if no external forces act upon it. Since no external forces are mentioned, we can assume that the total momentum will be conserved.
When the ball on the left stops momentarily, the ball on the right will start moving. This transfer of momentum occurs because the momentum that the ball on the left had before stopping is transferred to the ball on the right. As a result, the ball on the right will start moving to the right.
Therefore, the correct answer is:
The ball on the left will stop, and the ball on the right will swing to the right.