- #1
brushman
- 113
- 1
I'm studying for my first exam in Intro to Modern Physics. The question, along with the solution, is attached. Unfortunately I don't understand the solution.
The solution changes to the rest frame of M, which I get. Then, it shows what happens after the collision and it seems like it breaks conservation of momentum (they have Pbefore = -Pafter).
Secondly, when the solution switches back to the original frame, how does the smaller mass suddenly gain velocity? Shouldn't the velocity go down, not up?
Thanks
The solution changes to the rest frame of M, which I get. Then, it shows what happens after the collision and it seems like it breaks conservation of momentum (they have Pbefore = -Pafter).
Secondly, when the solution switches back to the original frame, how does the smaller mass suddenly gain velocity? Shouldn't the velocity go down, not up?
Thanks