a 10 kg ball moving due west at 2m/sec collides with a 4kg ball that is moving due east at 3 m/sec. You determine that immediately after the collision the 10 kg ball is moving due west at 0.57 m/sec.
A) this probably IS a Totally inelastic collision
B) this definitely is NOT a Totally inelastic collision
C) More information is needed to determine the likely nature of the collision.
Easy. Use conservation of momentum due west.
10*2-4*3=10*.57 + 4V
solve for V
Now, check energy before and after.
1/2 10&2^2+1/2 *4*3^2=? 1/2 10*.57^2+1/2 4*V^2
Thanks! :)
v=0.575m/s
To determine the nature of the collision, we can consider the law of conservation of momentum.
The law of conservation of momentum states that the total momentum before a collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision, assuming no external forces act on the system.
The momentum of an object is given by the product of its mass and velocity (momentum = mass × velocity).
Let's calculate the total momentum before the collision:
Initial momentum of the 10 kg ball = 10 kg × (-2 m/s) = -20 kg·m/s (negative because it is moving due west)
Initial momentum of the 4 kg ball = 4 kg × 3 m/s = 12 kg·m/s (positive because it is moving due east)
Total initial momentum = -20 kg·m/s + 12 kg·m/s = -8 kg·m/s
Now let's calculate the total momentum after the collision:
Final momentum of the 10 kg ball = 10 kg × (-0.57 m/s) = -5.7 kg·m/s (negative because it is still moving due west)
Total final momentum = -5.7 kg·m/s
Since the total momentum before the collision (-8 kg·m/s) is not equal to the total momentum after the collision (-5.7 kg·m/s), we can conclude that there is a change in momentum. This indicates that the collision is NOT perfectly elastic.
Based on this information, the answer is:
B) This definitely is NOT a Totally inelastic collision.