Two smooth steel balls and slide over a perfectly horizontal table

PHYSICS · Subjective · A Level · Physics · Mechanics and materials · Mechanics and materials

Problem

Two smooth steel balls PP and QQ slide over a perfectly horizontal table. The line joining their centres at the instant of impact is chosen as the xx-axis. • Masses: mP=0.40 kgm_P = 0.40\,\text{kg}, mQ=0.60 kgm_Q = 0.60\,\text{kg} • Just before impact: PP possesses a velocity 5.0 m s−15.0\,\text{m\,s}^{-1} along the +x+x direction and 2.0 m s−12.0\,\text{m\,s}^{-1} along the +y+y direction; QQ possesses a velocity 3.0 m s−13.0\,\text{m\,s}^{-1} along the −x-x direction only. • Coefficient of restitution for the collision: e=0.50e = 0.50 (a) Calculate the xx- and yy-components of the velocities of both balls immediately after the collision. (b) Determine the speed and direction of each ball after impact. (c) Compute the percentage loss in the total kinetic energy of the two-ball system due to the collision.

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