General Physics:

Mechanics

PHYS-101(en)
Lecture 10a:
Collisions

Dr. Marcelo Baquero

[email protected]
November 18th, 2024
Today’s agenda (Serway 9, MIT 15)
1. Collisions
2. Elastic collisions
3. Inelastic collisions
4. More collisions

2
Last few weeks - conserved quantities
There is net force
• Conservation of momentum: there iso
no

In a given inertial reference frame,

mass
exchange
the total momentum of an isolated system stays constant.

3
Last few weeks - conserved quantities
• Conservation of momentum:
In a given inertial reference frame,
the total momentum of an isolated system stays constant.
to to

∑ ∑
pi⃗ = pf⃗

4
Last few weeks - conserved quantities
• Conservation of momentum:
In a given inertial reference frame,
the total momentum of an isolated system stays constant.

∑ ∑ ∑ ∑
pi⃗ = pf⃗ ⇒ mvi⃗ = mvf⃗

5
Last few weeks - conserved quantities
• Conservation of energy:
The total energy of a system stays constant,
as long as energy doesn’t leave or enter the system.

6
Last few weeks - conserved quantities
• Conservation of energy:
The total energy of a system stays constant,
as long as energy doesn’t leave or enter the system.
At time t At time to

∑ ∑
Ei = Ef

7
Last few weeks - conserved quantities
• Conservation of energy:
The total energy of a system stays constant,
as long as energy doesn’t leave or enter the system.

∑ ∑
Ei = Ef
• Conservation of mechanical energy:
If all forces doing work on a system are conservative, then
its mechanical energy is conserved.

8
Last few weeks - conserved quantities
• Conservation of energy:
The total energy of a system stays constant,
as long as energy doesn’t leave or enter the system.

∑ ∑
Ei = Ef
• Conservation of mechanical energy:
If all forces doing work on a system are conservative, then
its mechanical energy is conserved.

∑ ∑
Emi = Emf

9
Last few weeks - conserved quantities
• Conservation of energy:
The total energy of a system stays constant,
as long as energy doesn’t leave or enter the system.

∑ ∑
Ei = Ef
• Conservation of mechanical energy:
If all forces doing work on a system are conservative, then
its mechanical energy is conserved.

∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑
Emi = Emf ⇒ Ki + Ui = Kf + Uf

10
DEMO (82)

Dropping things on an anvil

11
Elastic versus inelastic collisions
vAi
⃗ vBi
⃗
• Throughout a collision:
• Momentum is always
conserved (when the net
external force is zero or
short
when using the impulse if
approximation) Ap Fargist O
=

12
Elastic versus inelastic collisions
vAi
⃗ vBi
⃗
• Throughout a collision:
• Momentum is always
conserved (when the net
external force is zero or
when using the impulse
approximation)

• Kinetic energy is vAf

⃗ vBf
⃗
conserved when the
collision is elastic (i.e. no
nonconservative work, no In this case
change in potential SEM =
%
OE Sk + =
O
energy)

13
Elastic versus inelastic collisions
vAi
⃗ vBi
⃗
• Throughout a collision:
• Momentum is always
conserved (when the net
external force is zero or
when using the impulse
approximation)

• Kinetic energy is vAf

⃗ vBf
⃗
conserved when the
collision is elastic (i.e. no
nonconservative work, no
change in potential energy)

• Kinetic energy is not vAf

⃗ vBf
⃗
conserved when the
collision is inelastic
14
Conceptual question responseware.eu
Session ID: epflphys101en

A ball is thrown at a wall. The ball bounces off and returns

with a speed equal to the speed it had before colliding with
the wall. Which of the following quantities are the same after
the collision as they were before the collision?

&
A. The kinetic energy of the ball.
B. The momentum of the ball.
C. Both the kinetic energy and the momentum of the ball.
D. Neither the kinetic energy nor the momentum of the ball.

*
Before After col :

Pi my(*)
=
= -

Mr Pr =
my ap -p
=

=
2muX
ki = em( =
Em = K= m

15
 &

Elastic collision in one dimension

• Remember elastic collisions conserve *
-

v⃗
Frivai
v⃗
both momentum and kinetic energy Ai Bi

cons of momentum : Ep =
Ep
Mati M + =
Maf + Mi ⑪
=> Mai + Mbubi =
MavaftMbima(Vai-Yat MB(BF-VBi) =

Since elastic kin is zky conserved : K;

energy
=
.

,
MEMV Em EMV =

vAf
⃗+
vBf
⃗
Ma(-V) MB(V-V) =

Ma(ai Vaf) (Vai-Vat Mg((be VBi) (VBF-Vsi) &

+ = +

Now we divide by D to obtain :

Vitaf vetubi
=

Now we
multiply by Mp :
MaitMBYaf MBVftMVBi I =

16
 Elastic collision in one dimension
Finally I subtract From D:

AM-Mi
-MB)+
=>
Vaf(mg-ma) =
VBi(-mB-MB) - 2m"Bi
=

=> Af(marm)
mmA) Vai +
zmbVi

=> Vaf =Mi

=MiMVAi

17
DEMO (766): Elastic collision, same mass
Cart A, with mass m moving with speed vAi, collides head-on
with cart B of equal mass. What are the speeds of the two
carts after the collision, assuming it is elastic?
Ma MB M
= =

A. Cart B is initially at rest (vBi = 0)

=
Vaf

V=

18
DEMO (766): Elastic collision, same mass
Cart A, with mass m moving with speed vAi, collides head-on
with cart B of equal mass. What are the speeds of the two
carts after the collision, assuming it is elastic?
Ma MB M
= =

A. Cart B is initially at rest (vBi = 0)

=
Vaf

V= = i

B. Cart B is also moving with an initial velocity vBi

Af = +Musi =
Ubi

Bf =
Vai

19
DEMO (766): Elastic collision, same mass
Cart A, with mass m moving with speed vAi, collides head-on
with cart B of equal mass. What are the speeds of the two
carts after the collision, assuming it is elastic?

• When objects with equal mass collide elastically in 1D,

they simply swap velocities

20
DEMO (89): Newton’s cradle

21
DEMO (89): Newton’s cradle

- --
-
O O -

----
--- j

22
DEMO (89): Newton’s cradle

- & -1
-
-
O O
-
=-
-
Vo--

23
DEMO (89): Newton’s cradle

24
DEMO (766): Elastic collision, different mass
Cart A, with mass mA moving with speed vAi, experiences a
head-on elastic collision with cart B, which has mass mB and
is at rest. Vi D
=

A. What are the final velocities of the carts?

Af =Mi Vi

25
DEMO (766): Elastic collision, different mass
Cart A, with mass mA moving with speed vAi, experiences a
head-on elastic collision with cart B, which has mass mB and
is at rest.

B. What if mA is much larger than mB? max) my means that

Vati Vai ED ⑬ MatMe Ma

I
=

frame MA-MB MA
f Vai2vai "change
① ⑬

C. What if mA is much smaller than mB? makmp means that

Ma + MMB
VafVA =
-Vi
Ma-MB-MB
VEMA i D

26
Example
Two small balls are dropped from the same height h, one on
top of the other. Ball 2 is on top, while ball 1 is below and is
much more massive with m1 ≫ m2. First, ball 1 collides with
the ground at speed v0 and rebounds elastically. Then, as
ball 1 starts to move upward, it collides elastically with ball 2
which is still moving downwards also with speed v0. What is
the relative speed between the two balls after they collide?
m2
m1 g
h
ŷ
27
DEMO (492)

Seismic accelerator

28
Conceptual question responseware.eu
Session ID: epflphys101en

A small spacecraft with speed vi approaches Saturn, which

is moving in the opposite direction at speed vS. Due to
gravitational interactions with Saturn, the spacecraft swings
around Saturn and heads off in the direction opposite to its
approach. After it is far enough away to be effectively free of
Saturn’s gravity, the final speed of the spacecraft vf is…
M >M
A. vi − vS. vf =
VitVstVs M

I
B. vi + 2vS. vS => O
C. vi − 2vS. M

vi
E

vi + vS. Vs
t
D.
E. 2vi − vS.

29
Inelastic collisions
• Inelastic collisions do not conserve kinetic energy, but still
conserve momentum (as long as the system is isolated)

30
Inelastic collisions
• Inelastic collisions do not conserve kinetic energy, but still
conserve momentum (as long as the system is isolated)

• Energy can be lost to potential energy or thermal energy

(i.e. heat) due to friction

31
Inelastic collisions
• Inelastic collisions do not conserve kinetic energy, but still
conserve momentum (as long as the system is isolated)

• Energy can be lost to potential energy or thermal energy

(i.e. heat) due to friction

• A “perfectly inelastic” collision is when the objects stick

together afterwards, so there is one final velocity
-
>

⑰ > ID-V
MA MB Ma + MB

32
Inelastic collisions
• Inelastic collisions do not conserve kinetic energy, but still
conserve momentum (as long as the system is isolated)

• Energy can be lost to potential energy or thermal energy

(i.e. heat) due to friction

• A “perfectly inelastic” collision is when the objects stick

together afterwards, so there is one final velocity
-
>

⑰ > ID-V
MA MB Ma + MB
• Impose vAf = vBf = vf instead of energy conservation

33
Inelastic collisions
• Inelastic collisions do not conserve kinetic energy, but still
conserve momentum (as long as the system is isolated)

• Energy can be lost to potential energy or thermal energy

(i.e. heat) due to friction

• A “perfectly inelastic” collision is when the objects stick

together afterwards, so there is one final velocity

• Impose vAf = vBf = vf instead of energy conservation

• Kinetic energy can even be gained through an inelastic
collision!

• “How?!”, you ask…

34
Fusion!
2
H 3
H

4
He + 3.5 MeV
n + 14.1 MeV

Proton
Neutron
35
We’ve already seen inelastic collisions
Pro
ble
m set
7

36
Perfectly inelastic collision in one dimension
vAi
⃗ vBi
⃗
• Inelastic collisions conserve
momentum, but not kinetic Approach
energy (so we need an
additional constraint)

• In this case, we can find a Collision

completely general solution for
the final velocities in terms of the vf⃗
initial velocities
If perfectly inelastic
cons, of momentum : Pi
Ep =

Maai + Mobi Mar Me

=
+

Perf inelastic collision

.
: Var == Ye
=> maraitmobi matemat (Matmiee MaitMabi
=
= =

MAMB
37
DEMO (766): Perfectly inelastic collision
Cart A, with mass mA moving with speed vAi, collides head-
on with cart B, which has mass mB and is at rest. What are
the speeds of the two carts after the collision, assuming it is
perfectly inelastic? Vi O=

In Matitmo
MA + MB herei

38
Collisions in two or three dimensions
y
vAf

mA v θA
Ai
x
mB θB

vBf

42
Collisions in two or three dimensions
y
vAf

mA v θA
Ai
x
mB θB

vBf

• Still apply conservation of momentum and kinetic energy

(or alternative condition), but significantly more math

43
2D elastic collision, same mass
A ball of mass m moving with speed vAi without friction on a
horizontal surface collides elastically with another ball of an
equal mass, at rest. After the collision, what is the angle
between their velocities θA + θB? Ma M m Vi O = = =

Cons of momentum := Fitti

*:
Along Vai =
Varcos(ea) + VBecos(or)
Alongy : 0 =
Vasin(a) VBEsin(aB)
-

I and both
add them :
Now
square equs ,

= os(1) VBF cos(pd]2 + [Vaysin(fa) VBrsin(op)]

3
+ -

Valos(fa) + (a) + 2VatoS(fA) VBfCoS(AB)

/cos() Sin(a) = 1
=
+
-

+
Vsin(t) Sine) + -

2VArsin(e)Basin(ed)
u+ V 2Vars(cos(a) cos(or) sin(a)sin(eB)]
=
+
-

-
cos(pa +
ob)
↑
=
+tavafucos(enter) D 44
2D elastic collision, same mass
cons. of mech .

energy
: [Ki + Z =
EK +
P
↓M =
Now we subtract & from D and we
get :

I =
2 aff COS (fa + OB)

This condition can be satisfied when

1) Vaf
=
O Head-on collision (1D case)
2) VBf O = No collision

3) cos(fiter) = 0 E fator =

45
2D elastic collision, same mass
y

d vAf
mA v
Ai θA
x
mB θB

vBf

• To solve for the 4 unknowns (vAf, vBf, θA, θB), we need a

fourth equation

• Knowing the “impact parameter” d, allows you to directly

determine θB
46
DEMO (763)

Billiard table

47
Conceptual question responseware.eu
Session ID: epflphys101en

Cart A is at rest. An identical cart B is moving to the right and

collides elastically with cart A. After the collision, which of
the following is true

A. Carts A and B are both at rest.

&
B. Cart B stops and cart A moves to the right with speed
equal to the original speed of cart B.
C. Cart A remains at rest and cart B bounces back with
speed equal to its original speed.
D. Cart A moves to the right with a speed slightly less than
the original speed of cart B and cart B moves to the right
with a very small speed.

48
Conceptual question responseware.eu
Session ID: epflphys101en

Cart A is at rest. An identical cart B, moving to the right,

collides inelastically with cart A. They stick together. After
the collision, which of the following is true.

A. Carts A and B are both at rest.

D
B. Carts A and B move to the right with a speed less than
cart B's original speed.
C. Carts A and B moves to the right with speed greater than
Cart B’s original speed.
D. Cart B stops and cart A moves to the right with speed
equal to the original speed of cart B.

49
Conceptual question responseware.eu
Session ID: epflphys101en

An explosion splits an object initially at rest into two pieces of

unequal mass. Which piece has the greater kinetic energy?

D
A. The less massive piece
B. The more massive piece
C. They both have the same kinetic energy
D. There is not enough information to tell

50
Conceptual question responseware.eu
Session ID: epflphys101en

An experimental setup to study the collision of two carts:

In the experiment, cart A rolls to the right, away from the motion
sensor at the left end of the track, and hits cart B, which is at
rest. The graph below shows the distance from the motion
sensor to cart A as a function of time. Which objects collide at
time t = 1.5 s?
A. Cart B and the spring.
Distance (m)

B. Cart B and the

motion sensor.
&
C. Carts A and B.
D. Cart A and the spring.
E. Cart A and the
motion sensor. Time (s)
51
Summary
• As long as the system is isolated, momentum is conserved
in any collision

• If the collision is elastic, kinetic energy is also conserved

• Elastic means that the nonconservative work is zero
and there is no change in the potential energy

• If the collision is inelastic, kinetic energy is not conserved,

so you need to find some other condition

• If the collision is perfectly inelastic, the objects stick

together, so the other condition is to set the final velocities
of the objects to be equal

52
See you tomorrow for fusion reactions

53