Question

of the same material. You place A at rest on an air track and give B a constant velocity directed to the right so that it collides elastically with A. After the collision, both carts move to the right, the velocity of B being smaller than what it was before the collision. What do you conclude?

Answer 1

Some of the kinetic energy from B has been transferred to A

Step-by-step explanation:

In elastic collision, kinetic energy is conserved. Since A had 0 kinetic energy before the collision, while B has some kinetic energy. And kinetic energy is defined as

`E_k = (mv^2)/(2)`

As the speed of B decreases post-collision, and its mass stays the same, kinetic energy of B must have been decreased as well.

A gains speed post collision, and so does its kinetic energy. So according to the law of energy conservation, some kinetic energy from B must have been transferred to A.