Conservation of energy and momentum homework

In summary, the conversation is discussing a problem involving a 2.0 kg ball at rest being struck by a 5.0 kg ball moving at 10.0 m/s in an elastic collision. The question is asking for the speeds of both balls after the collision. The conversation also mentions using conservation of energy and momentum to solve for the unknown velocities.
  • #1
tica86
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A 2.0 kg ball at rest is struck head-on by a 5.0 kg ball moving along a track at 10.0 m/s in an elastic collision. What is the speed of the 5.0 kg ball and the 2.0 kg ball after the elastic collision?

----I'm sure this is a pretty simple question but I don't where to start.
Is the following equation correct?

v1= 2m1/m1+m2 ?

please help
 
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  • #2


tica86 said:
v1= 2m1/m1+m2 ?

What are the units of speed? Does the RHS of this equation have those units?

You will need to use conservation of energy and momentum to solve this. Compute the momentum and energy of the system before and after the collision, using symbols to represent the unknown velocities. You will have 2 equations to solve for the 2 unknown speeds.
 

FAQ: Conservation of energy and momentum homework

What is conservation of energy and momentum?

Conservation of energy and momentum is a fundamental principle in physics that states that the total amount of energy and momentum in a closed system remains constant over time. This means that energy and momentum can neither be created nor destroyed, but can only be transferred or transformed from one form to another.

Why is conservation of energy and momentum important?

Conservation of energy and momentum is important because it allows us to make accurate predictions and calculations about the behavior of physical systems. It also helps us understand the fundamental laws of nature and the interactions between different objects.

How is conservation of energy related to conservation of momentum?

Conservation of energy and momentum are closely related because they both involve the idea of a closed system where no external forces are acting. In a closed system, the total energy and momentum before a interaction or event must be equal to the total energy and momentum after the interaction or event.

Can the conservation of energy and momentum be violated?

No, the conservation of energy and momentum is a fundamental law of physics that has been observed to hold true in all physical systems. While it may seem like energy or momentum is being lost or gained in certain situations, it is actually being transferred or transformed into a different form.

How is conservation of energy and momentum applied in real-world situations?

Conservation of energy and momentum is applied in a wide range of real-world situations, such as in the design of engines and machines, the study of collisions and explosions, and the calculation of trajectories in space. It also plays a crucial role in understanding the dynamics of systems at the atomic and subatomic level.

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