Glider A and Glider B move without significant friction on a linear air track
PHYSICS · Multi-part · AP · Physics 1: Algebra-based · Linear Momentum · Linear Momentum
Problem
Glider A and Glider B move without significant friction on a linear air track. The gliders collide elastically. Relevant measured quantities are provided in the table below.
Mass (kg)
Velocity after collision (ms−1)
Glider A
0.200
-0.25
Glider B
0.300
+0.40
Before the collision, Glider B was at rest. The initial velocity of Glider A was not recorded.
(1) Part 1: (a) Determine the magnitude and direction of the initial velocity of Glider A.
(2) Part 2: (b) Calculate the total kinetic energy of the two–glider system both before and after the collision, and state whether the experimental data are consistent with an elastic interaction.
(3) Part 3: (c) Suppose the air track is actually tilted so that a uniform component of gravitational force exerts an external impulse of 0.030N⋅s on the two–glider system during the collision. Recalculate the initial velocity of Glider A that would be consistent with the measured final velocities under this condition, and comment on how sensitive your result is to small external impulses.