A particle of mass moves with speed along the positive x-axis and collides…
PHYSICS · Multi-part · CBSE · Physics · Work, Energy and Power · Work, Energy and Power
Problem
A particle of mass M moves with speed u along the positive x-axis and collides elastically with a particle of unknown mass m that is moving with speed 21u along the positive y-axis. Immediately after the collision, the particle of mass M is observed traveling at 43u at an angle of 45∘ below the positive x-axis.
Assume the system is isolated during the brief impact.
(a) Establish the component equations that express linear momentum conservation for the collision.
(b) Write the equation for conservation of kinetic energy for the two-particle system.
(c) Using the equations from parts (a) and (b), determine the ratio m/M of the two particle masses.
(d) Calculate the magnitude and direction of the velocity of the particle of mass m after the collision.
(e) Evaluate how the mass ratio you found would change if the post-collision speed of particle M were observed to be greater than 43u, and justify your reasoning based on the conservation laws.