Two identical smooth spheres collide head-on on a horizontal frictionless surface

PHYSICS · Subjective · AP · Physics 1: Algebra-based · Linear Momentum · Linear Momentum

Problem

Two identical smooth spheres collide head-on on a horizontal frictionless surface. Before the collision, sphere A moves with speed

v

and sphere B is at rest. The collision has coefficient of restitution

e

(

0 \le e \le 1

). Derive an expression, in terms of

e

, for the fraction of the system’s initial kinetic energy that remains as kinetic energy after the collision.