To protect their young in the nest, peregrine falcons will fly into birds of pre

Question

To protect their young in the nest, peregrine falcons will fly into birds of prey (such as ravens) at high speed. In one such episode, a 650 g falcon flying at 20.0 m/s hit a 1.40 kg raven flying at 9.0 m/s . The falcon hit the raven at right angles to its original path and bounced back at 5.0 m/s . (These figures were estimated by the author as he watched this attack occur in northern New Mexico.

a.) By what angle did the falcon change the raven's direction of motion?

b.)What was the raven's speed right after the collision?

Explanation / Answer

falcon's initial momentum = 0.650*20 i = 13 i
raven's momentum = 1.4*9j = 12.6 j

falcon's final momentum = -0.650*5 i = -3.25 i
raven's final momentum = 1.4(ui + vj)

comparing, 13 = -3.25 + 1.4u, u = 11.60
12.6 = 1.4*v, v = 9

raven's final velocity = 11.60 i + 9 j

a) theta = 90 - arctan(9/11.6) =52.19 deg
b) speed = 14.681 m/s

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