Question

A ball of mass 0.28 kg and a velocity of +5.3 m/s collides head-on with a ball of mass 0.85 kg that is initially at rest. No external forces act on the balls. After the collision, the velocity of the ball which was originally at rest is +2.38 m/s. What is the velocity of the 0.28 kg ball after the collision? Remember to include your data, equation, and work when solving this problem.

Answer 1

To find the velocity of mass B after the collision, we can apply the law of conservation of momentum.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the velocity of mass B after the collision, we can apply the law of conservation of momentum. The law states that the total momentum of a system before the collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision, as long as no external forces are acting on the system.

Let's denote the velocity of mass B after the collision as vB. We can set up the following equation:

(mass A * initial velocity A) + (mass B * initial velocity B) = (mass A * final velocity A) + (mass B * final velocity B)

Substituting the given values, we have:

(2.0 kg * 4 m/s) + (2.0 kg * (-5 m/s)) = (2.0 kg * 3 m/s) + (2.0 kg * vB)

Solving this equation, we find that the velocity of mass B after the collision is -1 m/s.

Answer 2

Step-by-step explanation:

Using conservation of momentum ( momentum = m * v)

momentum initial = momentum final

momentum initially =

.28 kg * 5.3 = 1.484 kg m/s

after collision =

1.484 = .85(2.38) + .28 v <==== solve for 'v'

- .539 = .28 v

v = - 1.93 m/s ( velocity OPPOSITE direction of the original + 5.3 m/s)