Question

A stationary object with mass $m_{B}$ is struck head-on by an object with mass $m_{A}$ that is moving initially at speed $v_{0}$ , (a) If the collision is elastic, what percentage of the original energy does each object have after the collision? (b) What does your answer in part (a) give for the special cases $(1) m_{A}=m_{B}$ and $(i i) m_{A}=5 m_{B} ?(c)$ For what values, if any, of the mass ratio $m_{A} / m_{B}$ is the original kinetic energy shared equally by the two objects after the collision?

   A stationary object with mass $m_{B}$ is struck head-on by an object with mass $m_{A}$ that is moving initially at speed $v_{0}$ , (a) If the collision is elastic, what percentage of the original energy does each object have after the collision? (b) What does your answer in part (a) give for the special cases $(1) m_{A}=m_{B}$ and $(i i) m_{A}=5 m_{B} ?(c)$ For what values, if any, of the mass ratio $m_{A} / m_{B}$ is the original kinetic energy shared equally by the two objects after the collision?
 
Show more…
University Physics with Modern Physics
University Physics with Modern Physics
Hugh D. Young, Roger… 12th Edition
Chapter 8, Problem 86 ↓
AceChat toggle button
Close icon
Ace pointing down

Please give Ace some feedback

Your feedback will help us improve your experience

Thumb up icon Thumb down icon
Thanks for your feedback!
Profile picture
A stationary object with mass $m_{B}$ is struck head-on by an object with mass $m_{A}$ that is moving initially at speed $v_{0}$ , (a) If the collision is elastic, what percentage of the original energy does each object have after the collision? (b) What does your answer in part (a) give for the special cases $(1) m_{A}=m_{B}$ and $(i i) m_{A}=5 m_{B} ?(c)$ For what values, if any, of the mass ratio $m_{A} / m_{B}$ is the original kinetic energy shared equally by the two objects after the collision?
Close icon
Play audio
Feedback
Powered by NumerAI
Kathleen Carty Ivan Kochetkov
David Collins verified

Maria Gabriela Cota Moreira and 86 other subject Physics 101 Mechanics educators are ready to help you.

Ask a new question

*

Labs

-

Want to see this concept in action?

NEW

Explore this concept interactively to see how it behaves as you change inputs.

View Labs

*

Key Concepts

-
Elastic Collisions
An elastic collision is one in which both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved. This type of collision contrasts with inelastic collisions, where some of the kinetic energy is transformed into other forms of energy. In elastic collisions, the total energy remains in the form of kinetic energy before and after the event, making the analysis dependent on these conservation principles.
Conservation of Momentum
In any collision, the principle of conservation of momentum states that the total momentum of the system before the collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision, provided no external forces act on the system. This principle is crucial for analyzing collisions since it links the masses and velocities of the objects involved, regardless of whether the collision is elastic or inelastic.
Conservation of Kinetic Energy
In the context of elastic collisions, conservation of kinetic energy means that the total kinetic energy of the system remains constant throughout the collision. This conserved kinetic energy, along with momentum conservation, provides the basis for deriving the equations that predict the velocities of the objects after they collide.
Mass Ratio Effects
The ratio of the masses of the colliding bodies significantly influences the outcome of the collision, particularly how kinetic energy is distributed post-collision. Different mass ratios lead to different energy fractions being transferred between the objects. Special cases, such as equal masses or one mass being larger than the other by a specific factor, can simplify the resulting expressions and provide insight into the dynamics of energy sharing.
Energy Sharing in Collisions
Determining the percentage of the original kinetic energy that each object retains after an elastic collision involves solving the conservation equations. The resulting expressions reveal how energy is partitioned based on the masses involved and can be applied to both general cases and specific mass ratios to understand the distribution of kinetic energy between the colliding objects.

*

Recommended Videos

-
energy-sharing-in-elastic-collisions-a-stationary-object-with-mass-m_b-is-struck-head-on-by-an-objec

Energy Sharing in Elastic Collisions. A stationary object with mass $m_{B}$ is struck head-on by an object with mass $m_{A}$ that is moving initially at speed $v_{0} .$ (a) If the collision is elastic, what percentage of the original energy does each object have after the collision? (b) What does your answer in part (a) give for the special cases (i) $m_{A}=m_{B}$ and (ii) $m_{A}=5 m_{B} ?(\mathrm{c})$ For what values, if any, of the mass ratio $m_{A} / m_{B}$ is the original kinetic energy shared equally by the two objects after the collision?

University Physics with Modern Physics

object-a-which-has-a-mass-m-and-a-velocity-v0-collides-head-onwith-object-b-which-has-a-mass-2m-and-a-velocity-12v0-followingthe-collision-object-b-has-a-velocity-of-14v0a-determine-the-velo-06586

Object A, which has a mass m and a velocity v0, collides head-on with object B, which has a mass 2m and a velocity 1/2v0. Following the collision, object B has a velocity of 1/4v0. (a) Determine the velocity of object A after the collision. (b) Is the collision elastic? If not, express the change in the kinetic energy in terms of m and v0. (Enter 0 if the collision is elastic.)

inelastic-collision-two-objects-leftm_12-mathrmg-mathrmm_25-mathrmgright-possess-velocities-mathbfv_

Inelastic collision. Two objects $\left(M_{1}=2 \mathrm{~g} ; \mathrm{M}_{2}=5 \mathrm{~g}\right)$ possess velocities $\mathbf{v}_{1}=10 \hat{\mathbf{x}} \mathrm{cm} / \mathrm{s}$ and $\mathbf{v}_{2}=3 \hat{\mathbf{x}}+5 \hat{y} \mathrm{~cm} / \mathrm{s}$ just prior to a collision during which they become permanently attached to each other. (a) What is their final velocity? (b) What fraction of the initial kinetic energy is lost in the collision?

Mechanics Berkeley Physics


*

Transcript

-
00:01 So in this exercise we have a perfect elastic collusion between two particles, so particle a and particle b.
00:10 So in the beginning, particle a is moving in the horizontal axis with initial velocity 0 and the particle b is stead still.
00:22 And after that, the particle a collides head on with particle b and both particles changes velocity, so particle b gain a velocity vb2, and particle a gain a velocity of v82.
00:41 Okay, so in exercise a, let me write it here.
00:47 We want to find what fraction of the initial kinetic energy that i'll call k -0 goes for particle a and what fraction goes to particle b.
00:58 Okay, so we have, we want to find the expressions for this and this.
01:09 So starting with the fraction, with the expression from the fraction of kinetic energy that goes to particle a.
01:19 So we have that the initial kinetic energy is just the mass of particle a times the initial velocity squared over 2.
01:30 And then the final kinetic energy of particle a is equal to the mass of particle a.
01:36 V -a -2 squared over 2.
01:43 So this fraction becomes v -a -2 squared over v0 squared.
01:59 Furthermore, we also have that elastic collusions have a relation between the initial and final velocity of this first particle here.
02:17 So i can write that the final velocity v2 is equal to m, a, minus m, b over m .a plus mb, this times b, oh sorry, v zero.
02:40 The initial velocity of particle a.
02:44 Okay, this is a, equation that works for elastic collisions only, and it is written in equation 8 .24 in the test book.
03:01 Okay? so we just use this and substitute in our expression, so we have that kk0, so pick a va squared, we have m .a.
03:16 Minus mb over m a plus m b squared okay the v0 squared cancels out with the v0 from the denominator so this is the first expression we wanted to find the second expression is for the amount of the fraction of energy that goes to particle b.
03:50 So we can argue that since we are working with a elastic collusion, we have conservation of kinetic energy such that k -a plus kb has to be equal to k -0, which also implies that if i divide the conservation of kinetic energy, by k0 in both sides, we have that the sum of the fraction that goes to particle a with the sum of the fraction with the fraction that goes to particle b has to be equal to 1.
04:40 Okay, this is goal from, this comes from conservation of energy.
04:48 Conservation of kinetic energy.
04:55 Okay, so in this case, i can isolate the fraction kb, k0 to be 1 minus k -a over k -0.
05:07 So i only pick one minus the expression i found previously.
05:13 So 1 -m -a -minus m -b over m -a plus m -b.
05:23 Everything squared.
05:25 So performing this objection, we find that the fraction that goes to kb is equal to m a plus m b squared so this is going to be a really big term so here this one becomes m a plus m b squared so i'm going to expand this here inside of this parenthesis so m a squared plus m b squared plus 2 mb mb minus m a minus mb squared i'll also expand this so we have m a squared plus mb squared minus two m a mb okay so because of this minus sign here m a squared cancels with m a squared mb squared also cancels with mb squared and we can sum up these two terms such that we have that the fraction of energy, the fraction of the initial energy that goes to particle b is going to be equal to 4 m .a, m .b over m .a plus mb squared.
06:56 So this is the final answer of question a.
07:03 Now question b asks us to evaluate the numerical value of these fractions, so ka, k0 and kb, k0 for some cases.
07:16 So the first case is when the mass of particle a is equal to the mass of particle b.
07:23 So we can go back to the ka's expression, and we have that when m .a is equal to mb, this term becomes zero...
Need help? Use Ace
Ace is your personal tutor. It breaks down any question with clear steps so you can learn.
Start Using Ace
Ace is your personal tutor for learning
Step-by-step explanations
Instant summaries
Summarize YouTube videos
Understand textbook images or PDFs
Study tools like quizzes and flashcards
Listen to your notes as a podcast
Continue solving this problem
Create a free account to:
  • View full step-by-step solution
  • Ask follow-up questions with Ace AI
  • Save progress and study later
Continue Free
Join the community

18,000,000+

Students on Numerade


Trusted by students at 8,000+ universities

Numerade

Get step-by-step video solution
from top educators

Continue with Clever
or



By creating an account, you agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Already have an account? Log In

A free answer
just for you

Watch the video solution with this free unlock.

Numerade

Log in to watch this video
...and 100,000,000 more!


EMAIL

PASSWORD

OR
Continue with Clever