Final answer:
In a collision between a 2.0 kg ball moving at 12 m/s and a 5.0 kg ball moving at 6.0 m/s, the final velocity of the 2.0 kg ball is -1.5 m/s and the final velocity of the 5.0 kg ball is 3.0 m/s.
Step-by-step explanation:
When two objects collide, their final velocities can be determined using the principle of conservation of momentum. In an elastic collision, the total momentum of the system is conserved.
Using the equation:
m1 * v1 + m2 * v2 = m1 * v'1 + m2 * v'2
We can plug in the mass and initial velocity values for each ball to solve for the final velocities.
After solving, we find that the final velocity of the 2.0 kg ball is -1.5 m/s, and the final velocity of the 5.0 kg ball is 3.0 m/s.