Question

Two billiard balls of equal mass undergo a perfectly elastic head-on collision. If one ball’s initial speed was 2 m/s, and the others was 3.6 m/s. Assuming a perfectly elastic collision, determine the speed and direction of each ball after the collision.

Answer 1

In a perfectly elastic head-on collision between two billiard balls of equal mass, the total kinetic energy before and after the collision remains the same. The speed and direction of each ball after the collision will be 3.6 m/s in opposite directions.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a perfectly elastic head-on collision between two billiard balls of equal mass, the total kinetic energy before and after the collision remains the same. Using the principle of conservation of momentum, we can determine the speed and direction of each ball after the collision.

Let's assume that ball 1 initially has a speed of 2 m/s and ball 2 has a speed of 3.6 m/s. Since they have equal masses, the magnitude of their speeds will be the same after the collision, but their directions will be opposite.

Therefore, the speed of each ball after the collision will be 3.6 m/s in opposite directions.

Answer 2

Momentum

perfectly elastic collision and m₁ = m₂, then:

v₁ = +2, v₂ = -3.6 (different direction)

v₁’ = v₂ dan v₂’ = v₁, then:

v₁' = -3.6, v₂' = +2