PHYSICS · Subjective · AP · Physics 1: Algebra-based · Linear Momentum · Linear Momentum
Problem
Two disks collide on a frictionless tabletop. Disk 1 (mass 0.25kg) initially moves with velocity components (1.8m⋅s−1 east,0.0m⋅s−1 north). Disk 2 (mass 0.35kg) initially moves with velocity components (0.0m⋅s−1 east,2.0m⋅s−1 north). After the collision, disk 1 moves with components (1.2m⋅s−1 east,1.0m⋅s−1 north), and disk 2 with components (0.6m⋅s−1 east,1.0m⋅s−1 north). Determine whether the collision was elastic by calculating the change in total kinetic energy of the two-disk system (state the numerical value and its sign).