Question

A 0.141 kg glider is moving to the right on a frictionless, horizontal air track with a speed of 0.850 m/s. it has a head-on collision with a 0.306 kg glider that is moving to the left with a speed of 2.12 m/s. suppose the collision is elastic.

Answer 1

The question involves solving for the final velocities of two gliders after a head-on elastic collision, using the conservation of momentum and conservation of kinetic energy principles.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question deals with a head-on elastic collision between two gliders on a frictionless air track. In an elastic collision, both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved. Since the track is frictionless, we don't have to worry about energy loss due to friction. To find the final velocities of both gliders after the collision, we will use the conservation of momentum and kinetic energy equations:

• The total momentum before and after the collision remains constant. (m1 * v1_initial + m2 * v2_initial = m1 * v1_final + m2 * v2_final)
• The total kinetic energy before and after the collision remains constant. ((1/2 * m1 * v1_initial^2) + (1/2 * m2 * v2_initial^2) = (1/2 * m1 * v1_final^2) + (1/2 * m2 * v2_final^2))

Solving these equations simultaneously will yield the final velocities of both gliders after the collision.