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8 January, 10:41

An air-track glider undergoes a perfectly inelastic collision with an identical glider that is initially at rest. what fraction of the first glider's initial kinetic energy is transformed into thermal energy in this collision?

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  1. 8 January, 11:05
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    Refer to the diagram shown below.

    The initial KE (kinetic energy) of the system is

    KE₁ = (1/2) mu²

    After an inelastic collision, the two masses stick together.

    Conservation of momentum requires that

    m*u = 2m*v

    Therefore

    v = u/2

    The final KE is

    KE₂ = (1/2) (2m) v²

    = m (u/2) ²

    = (1/4) mu²

    = (1/2) KE₁

    The loss in KE is

    KE₁ - KE₂ = (1/2) KE₁.

    Conservation of energy requires that the loss in KE be accounted for as thermal energy.

    Answer: 1/2
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