- #1
felipenavarro
- 15
- 0
Homework Statement
a small ball of mass "m" is traveling with an initial velocity v in the positive x direction. it collides with a larger vall of mass M that is initially at rest. after the collision, the smaller ball is at rest. What is the final velocity, V, of the larger ball?
options are:
a. V=v
b. V=-v
c. V=0
d. V=(M/m)v
e. V=(m/M)v
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
well, i understand that in order for a ball to have a velocity of 0 after colliding(in a elastic collision) with another one, the other one must have equal mass and it will continue with the velocity the first one had. in the problem it says that the second one has greater mass so it can not be an elastic collison because the firs ball would have bounced off with a negative velicocity. so it must be inelastic and if they are stuck together both have a speed of 0.
ok, this is one way of looking at the problem but i don't know if it is correct.
answer e also looks correct because it is what you get after solving momenun initial=momentum final
which one is correct?