Question

Consider two elastic collisions: 1) a golf ball with speed v hits astationary bowling ball head-on. 2) a bowling ball with speed vhits a stationary golf ball head-on. In which case does the golfball have the greater speed after the collision?

a. situation 1
b. situation 2
c. the same

Answer 1

a) one can use the fact that in an elastic collision, the speed of separation equals the speed of approach, this would favor situation (1)