- #1
Abu
Homework Statement
Suppose a heavy particle (mass m1) has an elastic head-on collision with a very light particle of mass m2 initially at rest. Show that if m1>>m2, the velocity of the projectile (m1) is practically unchanged, whereas the target particle (m2) acquires a velocity v2' = 2v1
Homework Equations
m1v1+ m2v2 = m1v1'+m2v2'
v1-v2 = v2'-v1'
The Attempt at a Solution
When I first tried to solve it I thought I had it correct.
Basically I did something really simple like this:
v1-v2 = v2'-v1'
v1 - 0 = v2'-v1'
v1 = v2'-v1'
Then here I just went to rearrange v1' with v1, forgetting that they are not the same values. Then I got the 2v1 = v2' but I did it incorrectly, obviously. I don't know where to go from here though... Thank you.