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The collision of two particles each of mass m is viewed in a Lorentz frame in which they hit head-on with momenta equal in

a) Magnitude
b) Direction
c) Both Magnitude and Direction
d) None of the above

1 Answer

3 votes

Final answer:

In an elastic collision between two particles, both magnitude and direction of their momenta are conserved. However, in an inelastic collision, only momentum is conserved.

Step-by-step explanation:

In an elastic collision between two particles, both magnitude and direction of their momenta are conserved. This means that the total momentum of the system before the collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision.

However, inelastic collisions do not conserve kinetic energy, although they do conserve momentum. In an inelastic collision, the two particles stick together and move as a single mass after the collision.

In an elastic collision between two particles, both magnitude and direction of their momenta are conserved. However, in an inelastic collision, only momentum is conserved.

Based on the information given in the question, the collision described is an inelastic collision, so the correct answer is d) None of the above.

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