Question

A 4. 0 kg bowling ball sliding to the right at 8. 0 m/s has an elastic head-on

collision with another 4. 0 kg bowling ball initially at rest. The first ball

stops after the collision.

a. Find the velocity of the second ball after the collision.

b. Verify your answer by calculating the total kinetic energy before and

after the collision.

Answer 1

a. 8.0m/s, b. see below

Step-by-step explanation:

a. use conservation of linear momentum to find v:

mv_0 + m(0) = m(0) + mv, v_0 = v = 8.0 m/s

b. KE_i = 1/2(4)(8)^2 = 128

KE_f = 1/2(4)(8)^2 = 128

KE_i = KE_f so there's no change in kinetic energy, which proves its an elastic head-on collision