PROBLEM 14.

Two identical cars A and B are at rest on a loading dock with brakes released. Car C, of a
slightly different style but of the same weight, has been pushed by dockworkers and hits car B
with a velocity of 1.5 m/s. Knowing that the coefficient of restitution is 0.8 between B and C
and 0.5 between A and B, determine the velocity of each car after all collisions have taken place.
1.5 m/s
A B C

SOLUTION

m A = m B = mC = m

Collision between B and C:

The total momentum is conserved:

mv B¢ + mvC¢ = mv B + mvC

v B¢ + vC¢ = 0 + 1.5 (1)

Relative velocities:
( vB - vC )(eBC ) = (vC¢ - vB¢ )
(-1.5)(0.8) = (vC¢ - vB¢ )
-1.2 = vC¢ - vB¢ (2)

Solving (1) and (2) simultaneously,

vB¢ = 1.35 m/s
vC¢ = 0.15 m/s v C¢ = 0.150 m/s ◀

Since v B¢ > vC¢ , car B collides with car A.

Collision between A and B:

mv A¢ + mvB¢¢ = mv A + mvB¢
v A¢ + vB¢¢ = 0 + 1.35 (3)

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2712
 PROBLEM 14.8 (Continued)

Relative velocities:
( v A - vB¢ )eAB = ( vB¢¢ - v A¢ )
(0 - 1.35)(0.5) = vB¢¢ - v A¢
v A¢ - vB¢¢ = 0.675 (4)

Solving (3) and (4) simultaneously,

2 v A¢ = 1.35 + 0.675

v ¢A = 1.013 m/s ◀

v ¢¢B = 0.338 m/s ◀

Since vC¢ < v B¢¢ < v A¢ , there are no further collisions.

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2713
 PROBLEM 14.19
Cruiser A was traveling east at 60 mi/h on
a police emergency call when it was hit at
an intersection by car B, which was
traveling south at high speed. After sliding
together on the wet pavement, the two cars
hit cruiser C, which was traveling north at
45 mi/h and was 63 ft from the intersection
at the time of the first collision. Stuck
together, the three cars hit a wall and came
to a stop at D. Knowing that car B weighs
3600 lb and that each of the cruisers
weighs 3000 lb, solve the problems below
neglecting the forces exerted on the cars by
the wet pavement and treating the cars as
point masses. Knowing that the
coordinates of point D are x D = 42 ft and
yD = 46.5 ft, determine (a) the time
elapsed from the first collision to the stop
at D, (b) the speed of car B.

SOLUTION

mi mi
vA = 60 = 88 ft/s, vC = 95 = 66 ft/s
h h
st
Let t be the time elapsed from the 1 impact. No external forces act in the x-y plane on the
system of A, B and C during the impact. Therefore, the mass center moves at the velocity it had
before the collision. Setting the origin at 0, we can find the initial mass center at the moment of
the 1st collision.

(m A + mB + mC ) ( xC i + yC j) = m A (0) + mB (0) + mC ( xC i + yC j)
1 1
(3000 + 3600 + 3000)( xC i + yC j) = 3000(20i - 63 j)
g g
9600 xC i + 9600 yC j = 60,000i - 189,000 j

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2728
 PROBLEM 14.19 (CONTINUED)
Equate components,
i: 9600 xC = 60,000, xC = 6.25 ft
j 9600 yC = -189,000, yC = -19.6875 ft

Given velocities v A = 88i ft/s, vC = 66 j ft/s, v B = -vB j

Velocity of mass center,

(mA + mB + mC ) v = mAvA + mBvB + mC vC

v = 0.3125vA + 0.375vB + 0.3125vC

rD = x D i - yD j
Since the cars hit the wall at D, x D i - yD j = xC i + yC j + vt
x D i - yD j = xC i + yC j + (0.3125v A - 0.375v B + 0.3125v C )t

Equate components,
i : xD = xC + 0.3125vAt (1)

j : - yD = yC - 0.375vBt + 0.3125vC t (2)

Data: x D = 42 ft, yD = 46.5 ft

From (1), 42 = 6.25 + (0.3125)(88)t t = 1.300 s ◀

Into (2),
-46.5 = -19.6875 - 0.375vB (1.300) + 0.3125(66)(1.300)
vB = 110.0 ft/s
vB = 75.0 mi/h

vB = 75.0 mi/h ◀

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2729
 PROBLEM 14.39
B
A 15-lb block B starts from rest and slides on the 25-lb wedge A, which
30° is supported by a horizontal surface. Neglecting friction, determine (a)
A the velocity of B relative to A after it has slid 3 ft down the inclined
surface of the wedge, (b) the corresponding velocity of A.

SOLUTION
Kinematics: v B = v A + v B /A

Law of cosines: vB2 = vA2 + vB2 /A - 2vA vB/A cos30 (1)

Principle of impulse and momentum:

Smv 0 + SFt = Smv

Components : 0 + 0 = m A v A + m B ( v A - v B/A cos 30)

mB vB/A cos30 15cos30

vA = = vB/A
m A + mB 25 + 15
= 0.32476 vB/A

From Eq. (1) vB2 = (0.32476)2 vB2 /A + vB2 /A - (2)(0.32476)cos30vB2 /A

= 0.54297 vB2 /A

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2756
 PROBLEM 14.39 (Continued)

Principle of conservation of energy: T0 + V0 = T1 + V1

1 1
0+0= m A v 2A + mB vB2 - WB d sin 30
2 2
1 WA 1 WB
(0.32476vB/A )2 + (0.54297) vB2 /A = WB d sin 30
2 g 2 g
é 1 25 1 15 ù
ê (0.32476)2 + (0.54297)ú vB2 /A = (15)(3)sin 30
êë 2 32.2 2 32.2 úû

0.16741vB2 /A = 22.5

(a) v B/A = 11.59 ft/s 30 ◀

(b) v A = (0.32476)(11.59) v A = 3.76 ft/s ◀

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2757
 vC
PROBLEM 14.41
C
v0 30° In a game of pool, ball A is moving with a velocity v 0 of
30°
A B
magnitude v0 = 15 ft/s when it strikes balls B and C, which are
at rest and aligned as shown. Knowing that after the collision
the three balls move in the directions indicated and assuming
frictionless surfaces and perfectly elastic impact (that is,
vA 30° vB conservation of energy), determine the magnitudes of the
velocities v A , v B , and v C .

SOLUTION

Velocity vectors: (
v0 = v0 cos30 i - sin30 j ) v0 = 15 ft/s

v A = -v A j

(
v B = vB sin30 i - cos30 j )
vC = vC (cos30 i + sin 30 j)

Conservation of momentum: mv 0 = mv A + mv B + mvC

Divide by m and resolve into components.

i: v0 cos 30  = v B sin 30  + vC cos 30 

j: - v0 sin 30  = - v A - v B cos 30  + vC sin 30 

Solving for v B and vC ,

3 1
vB = (v - v A ) vC = (v + v A )
2 0 2 0
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
Conservation of energy: mv = mv + mv + mv
2 0 2 A 2 B 2 C
Divide by 12 m and substitute for v B and vC .

3 1
(v0 - v A ) + (v0 + v A )
2 2
v02 = v A2 +
4 4
= 2v2A + v02 - v0 vA
1
vA = v = 7.5 ft/s vA = 7.50 ft/s ◀
2 0
3
vB = (15 - 7.5) = 6.4952 ft/s vB = 6.50 ft/s ◀
2
1
vC = (15 + 7.5) = 11.25 ft/s vC = 11.25 ft/s ◀
2

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2760
 C PROBLEM 14.47

Four small disks A, B, C, and D can slide freely on a frictionless

3 ft
horizontal surface. Disks B, C, and D are connected by light rods
and are at rest in the position shown when disk B is struck squarely
v0 A B by disk A, which is moving to the right with a velocity v0 = (38.5
x ft/s)i. The weights of the disks are WA = WB = WC = 15 lb, and WD
= 30 lb. Knowing that the velocities of the disks immediately after
3 ft the impact are vA = vB = (8.25 ft/s)i, vC = vC i, and vD = vD i,
determine (a) the speeds vC and vD, (b) the fraction of the initial
kinetic energy of the system which is dissipated during the
D collision.

SOLUTION
There are no external forces. Momentum is conserved.

(a) Moments about D : 3mA v0 = 6mC vC + 3(m A + mB )vB

3mA 3(mA + mB )
vC = v0 - vB = (0.5)(38.5) - (8.25) = 11 vC = 11.00 ft/s ◀
6mC 6mC

Moments about C : 3m A v0 = 3(m A + mB )vB + 6mD vD

3m A v0 3(mA + mB )
vD = - vB = (0.25)(38.5) - (0.5)(8.25) = 5.5 ft/s vD = 5.50 ft/s ◀
6 mD 6 mD

1 WA 2 1 15
(b) Initial kinetic energy: T1 = v = (38.5)2 = 345.24 ft ⋅ lb
2 g 0 2 32.2
Final kinetic energy:
1 WA + WB 2 1 WC 2 1 WD 2
T2 = vB + v + v
2 g 2 g C 2 g D
1 30 1 15 1 30
= (8.25)2 + (11.00)2 + (5.50)2 = 73.98 ft ⋅ lb
2 32.2 2 32.2 2 32.2
Energy lost: 345.24 - 73.98 = 271.26 ft ⋅ lb

271.26 (T1 - T2 )
Fraction of energy lost = = 0.786 = 0.786 ◀
345.24 T1

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2771
 PROBLEM 14.51
B'
1.8 m 1.2 m
In a game of billiards, ball A is given an initial velocity
v 0 along the longitudinal axis of the table. It hits ball B
and then ball C, which are both at rest. Balls A and C are
0.75 m
v0 B
vB c observed to hit the sides of the table squarely at A¢ and
C ¢ , respectively, and ball B is observed to hit the side
C vC
0.75 m
A
obliquely at B¢. Knowing that v0 = 4 m/s, v A = 1.92 m/s,
vA C'
and a = 1.65 m, determine (a) the velocities v B and v C of
balls B and C, (b) the Point C ¢ where ball C hits the side
a A' of the table. Assume frictionless surfaces and perfectly
elastic impacts (that is, conservation of energy).

SOLUTION

Velocities in m/s. Lengths in meters. Assume masses are 1.0 for each ball.

Before impacts: ( v A ) 0 = v0 i = 4 i, (v B ) 0 = ( v C ) 0 = 0

After impacts: v A = -1.92 j, v B = (vB ) x i + (vB ) y j, vC = vC i

Conservation of linear momentum: v 0 = v A + v B + vC

i: 4 = 0 + ( v B ) x + vC ( v B ) x = 4 - vC

j: 0 = -1.92 + (vB ) y + 0 (vB ) y = 1.92

1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
Conservation of energy: v = v + v + v
2 0 2 A 2 B 2 C
1 2 1 1 1 1
(4) = (1.92)2 + (1.92)2 + (4 - vC )2 + vC2
2 2 2 2 2

vC2 - 4 vC + 3.6864 = 0

4  (4)2 - (4)(3.6864)
vC = = 2  0.56 = 2.56 or 1.44
2

Conservation of angular momentum about B¢ :

0.75v0 = (1.8 - a )v A + cvC

cvC = (0.75)(4) - (1.8 - 1.65)(1.92) = 2.712
2.712
c=
vC

If vC = 1.44, c = 1.8833 off the table. Reject.

If vC = 2.56, c =1.059

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2777
 PROBLEM 14.51 (Continued)

Then, ( v B ) x = 4 - 2.56 = 1.44, v B = 1.44 i + 1.92 j

Summary.

(a) v B = 2.40 m/s 53.1 ◀

vC = 2.56 m/s ◀

(b) c = 1.059 m ◀

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2778