Question

Ballistic pendulum conservation of momentum/mechanical energy?

"Mechanical energy and momentum are conserved only when certain conditions rae met. Explain why the collision between the ball and the pendulum conserves momentum but not mechanical energy. Similarly, explain why the motion of the pendulum during its swing conserves mechanical energy but (apparently) not momentum."

I understand why during the collision kinetic energy is lost and momentum is conserved, but why would mechanical energy be conserving during the swing and not momentum?

Answer 1

In the explanation the answers for the two questions are analyzed.

Step-by-step explanation:

1. When a collision occurs, it can be said that the total energy is not conserved, but the momentum is conserved. Kinetic energy is converted to heat in the case of an inelastic collision, therefore the sum of all energies is the same before and after the collision. Regarding the net moment before the collision is equal to the net moment after said collision.

2. Regarding the impulse, this is not conserved in the case of an oscillating pendulum because the resulting force acting on the pendulum is not equal to zero. While the total energy would be equal to the sum of the potential energy plus the kinetic energy.