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A 0.400 kg glider is moving to the right on a frictionless, ­horizontal air trac

ID: 1414589 • Letter: A

Question

A 0.400 kg glider is moving to the right on a frictionless, ­horizontal air track with a speed of 0.850 m/s when it makes a head-on collision with a stationary 0.150 kg glider. A) Find the magnitude of the final velocity of first glider if the collision is elastic B)Find the direction of the final velocity of first glider if the collision is elastic C)Find the magnitude of the final velocity of second glider if the collision is elastic. D)Find the direction of the final velocity of second glider if the collision is elastic. E)Find the final kinetic energy of first glider. F)Find the final kinetic energy of second glider.

Explanation / Answer

Here,

Assuming glider 1 is going towards positive x axis

mass of glider 1, m1 = 0.40 kg
mass of glider 2, m2 = 0.15 kg

Velocity of glider 1 before collision, v1 = 0.850 m/s

in elastic collision , Velocity of second glider after collision is given by expresion,
V2' = 2*m1/(m1+m2)*v1
v2' = 2*0.40/(0.40+0.15) * 0.850
v2' = 1.236 m/s towards + axis

in elastic collision , Velocity of First glider after collision is given by expresion,
v1' = ( (m1 - m2)/(m1+m2) )v1
v1' = ( (0.4 - 0.15)/(0.4+0.15) ) * 0.850
v1' = 0.386 m/s towards + x axis

KE of first glider after collision,
KEf = 0.5*m1*v1'^2
KEf = 0.5*0.40*0.386^2
KEf = 0.03 J

KE of Second glider after collision,
KEf = 0.5*m1*v1'^2
KEf = 0.5*0.40*1.286^2
KEf = 0.331 J