In a physics demonstration, two rubber balls are dropped down a tube towards the

Question

In a physics demonstration, two rubber balls are dropped down a tube towards the ground,with the lighter ball behind, and not quite in contact with, the heavier ball. The heavier ball collides with the ground and bounces, then collides with the still descending lighter ball. Assume that all the collisions are elastic. In one such demonstration, the heavier ball has a mass of 500 g, the lighter one a mass of100 g, and they are released 1.00 m above the ground. How high does the light ball rise after the two collisions?

Explanation / Answer

Call little ball a bigger ball b.

At top PE = (Ma+ Mb) g h = 6 Ma g h

At bottom KE = 0.50 (Ma+Mb) V^2 = 6 Ma g h

V = sqrt(2 g h)

Height 3.00 m

ans. 2.95 m

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