PHYSICS · Multi-part · CBSE · Physics · Work, Energy and Power · Work, Energy and Power
Problem
Two low-friction gliders move on a straight, horizontal air track. Glider A has mass 0.25kg and glider B has mass 0.35kg. Instruments record the following immediately after the gliders collide:
• Glider A moves at −0.80m⋅s−1.
• Glider B moves at +0.20m⋅s−1.
The interaction conserves the total kinetic energy of the two-glider system.
(a) Derive the system of equations that relates the unknown initial velocities of the two gliders to the known masses and measured final velocities.
(b) Solve the system obtained in part (a) to determine the initial velocity of each glider, including appropriate signs to indicate direction.
(c) Show explicitly that the numerical solutions from part (b) are consistent with conservation of linear momentum for the two-glider system.
(d) Using your results, calculate the percentage change in kinetic energy of each individual glider and discuss how these changes are permissible under the conditions stated in the problem.