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COLLISIONS

Collisions occur when objects strike each other. There are two types of collisions: inelastic collisions, where momentum is conserved but not kinetic energy, and elastic collisions, where both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved. Problems involving collisions are solved using conservation of momentum and conservation of energy. Examples are provided demonstrating calculations of velocities before and after collision using these conservation principles.

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Martha Glorie Manalo Wallis
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187 views3 pages

COLLISIONS

Collisions occur when objects strike each other. There are two types of collisions: inelastic collisions, where momentum is conserved but not kinetic energy, and elastic collisions, where both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved. Problems involving collisions are solved using conservation of momentum and conservation of energy. Examples are provided demonstrating calculations of velocities before and after collision using these conservation principles.

Uploaded by

Martha Glorie Manalo Wallis
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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COLLISIONS

Collisions occur when one object strikes another. Problems involving collisions are usually solved
using conservation of momentum and conservation of energy
There are two types of collisions:
1. Inelastic collisions: momentum is conserved

The figure shows an inelastic collision between two particles, both of mass 𝑚m, in
which Δ𝐾=𝑋JΔK=XJ of sound and heat are produced by the collision. The particle motion
involved in the sound and heat has net zero momentum.
2. Elastic collisions: momentum is conserved and kinetic energy is conserved

In the figure, before the collision, particle A with mass 𝑚𝖠mA is moving towards particle B with a
speed 𝑢𝖠uA, while particle B with mass 𝑚𝖡mB is moving towards particle B with a speed 𝑢𝖡uB. If the
collision is elastic, both momentum and kinetic energy must be conserved.

[A] m1v1i + m2v2i = m1v1f + m2v2f


[B] 1/2 m1(v1i)2 + 1/2 m2(vi)2 = 1/2 m1(v1f)2 + 1/2 m2 (v2f)2
Wherein:
KE = kinetic energy
p = momentum
m = mass, kg
mi = mass of 1st object
m2= mass of 2nd object
v = velocity, m/s
v1 = velocity of 1st object
v2 = velocity of 2nd object
vi = initial velocity
vf = final velocity

EXAMPLES:

1) A red ball of mass 0.2 kg hits a blue ball of mass 0.25 kg, in an elastic collision, and the red ball
comes to a stop. The red ball has a velocity of 5 m/s, and the blue ball was at rest. What is the
final velocity of the blue ball?
Answer: The mass of the 1st ball, m1 = 0.2 kg; the mass of the 2nd ball, m2 = 0.25kg. The initial velocity
of the 1st ball, v1i = 5 m/s; the initial velocity of the 2nd ball, v2i = 0; the final velocity of the 1st ball, (v1f)
= 0.
m1v1i + m2v2i = m1v1f + m2v2f
(0.2 kg)(5 m/s) + (0.25 kg)(0 m/s) = (0.2 kg)(0) + (0.25 kg)(v2f)
1.0 kg.m/s + 0 = 0 + (0.25 kg)(v2f)
1.0 kg.m/s = (0.25 kg)(v2f)
(1.0 kg.m/s) / 0.25 kg = (v2f)
4 m/s = (v2f)

2) Use the equation for conservation of kinetic energy in an elastic collision to determine the final
velocity for the blue ball.
Answer: The mass of the 1st ball, m1 = 0.2 kg; the mass of the 2nd ball, m2 = 0.20kg. The initial velocity
of the 1st ball, v1i = 5 m/s; the initial velocity of the 2nd ball, v2i = 0; the final velocity of the 1st ball, (v1f)
= 0.
1/2 m1(v1i)2 + 1/2 m2(vi)2 = 1/2 m1(v1f)2 + 1/2 m2 (v2f)2
1/2 (0.2 kg)(5m/s)2 + 1/2 (0.2 kg)(0) = 1/2 (0.2 kg)(0) + 1/2 (0.2 kg)(v2f)2
1/2 (0.2 kg)(5m/s)2 = 1/2 (0.2 kg)(v2f)2
(5m/s)2 = (v2f)2
25 m2/s2 = (v2f)2
v2f = √25 m2/s2
v2f = 5 m/s
SOURCES:

https://isaacphysics.org/concepts/cp_collisions

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/elacol.html

http://www.softschools.com/formulas/physics/elastic_collision_formula/67/#:~:targetText=An%20elast
ic%20collision%20is%20a,and%20po%20%3D%20pf.&targetText=And%2C%20since%20p%20%3D%20lin
ear%20momentum,1f%20%2B%20m2v2f.

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