1) Suppose a 10 kg ball makes a one dimensional collision with a 5 kg ball. Thin
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Question
1) Suppose a 10 kg ball makes a one dimensional collision with a 5 kg ball. Think about what could happen to the velocity of the 5 kg ball as a result of the collision. Could it remain unchanged? Could it increase? Could it decrease? Is it possible for both balls to end up traveling in the same direction after the collision?
For each result you think could happen, please briefly explain why and offer an example of starting conditions that would cause that result. If you think a certain result couldn't happen, please also briefly explain why.
2) When a passenger car collides head-on with a large 18-wheeler tractor trailer truck, the result can be catastrophic. Although the facts are rather grim, the analysis may well be eye-opening. Assuming a head-on highway collision in which the car and the truck stick together following the collision, estimate the changes in velocity by (a) the truck and (b) the car. (As usual, please state any of your assumptions and briefly explain how you arrive at your answers.)
Explanation / Answer
1) Suppose a 10 kg ball makes a one dimensional collision with a 5 kg ball. Think about what could happen to the velocity of the 5 kg ball as a result of the collision. Could it remain unchanged? Could it increase? Could it decrease? Is it possible for both balls to end up traveling in the same direction after the collision?
For each result you think could happen, please briefly explain why and offer an example of starting conditions that would cause that result. If you think a certain result couldn't happen, please also briefly explain why.
The velocity of the k kg ball will change. It may increase or decrease depending on it’s previous velocity
Final velocity of 5 kg ball V’ = (20u – 5 u’)/15
U and u’ are intial velocity of 10 kg ball and 5 kg ball
Yes it is possible for the balls to travel in same direction after collision if they were moving in the same direction already before the collision. Also if the momentum of one ball is much high to turn the direction of another ball this could happen
2) When a passenger car collides head-on with a large 18-wheeler tractor trailer truck, the result can be catastrophic. Although the facts are rather grim, the analysis may well be eye-opening. Assuming a head-on highway collision in which the car and the truck stick together following the collision, estimate the changes in velocity by (a) the truck and (b) the car. (As usual, please state any of your assumptions and briefly explain how you arrive at your answers.)
The result is catastrophic because the change of momentum is too much on car due to its lower mass comparing to the truck
The velocity after collision v = (mcu+mtu’)/mcmt
Change in car velocity is = u – v
Change in velocity of truck = u’ – v
Change in car velocity is lot more than that of truck velocity. According to newton’s third law the forc exerted by truck on car and the force exerted by car on truck is equal.
Since car is smaller in mass the acceleration has to be bigger in order to exert the equal amount of force on truck
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