A student wants to determine the mass of a glider by analyzing a single head-on…
PHYSICS · Single correct · AP · Physics 1: Algebra-based · Linear Momentum · Linear Momentum
Problem
A student wants to determine the mass of a glider by analyzing a single head-on collision on a nearly frictionless air track. The unknown-mass glider moves toward and collides elastically with a second glider of known mass that is initially at rest. After the collision, the velocities of both gliders are measured. Which of the following sets of conservation laws, taken together, are sufficient for the student to calculate the unknown mass?
(a) Conservation of kinetic energy only
(b) Conservation of linear momentum and conservation of angular momentum
(c) Conservation of linear momentum and conservation of kinetic energy
(d) Conservation of linear momentum only