Two gliders collide on a frictionless air track that is aligned along the x axis. Glider A has an initial velocity of + 4.0 m/s and a mass of mA = 0.20 kg. Glider B is initially at rest and has a mass mB. After they collide, A has a velocity of - 1.0 m/s and B has a velocity of + 2.0 m/s. Determine mB. Assume that It is an elastic collision.

Question

David Garza

Physics

8 March, 20:36

Two gliders collide on a frictionless air track that is aligned along the x axis. Glider A has an initial velocity of + 4.0 m/s and a mass of mA = 0.20 kg. Glider B is initially at rest and has a mass mB. After they collide, A has a velocity of - 1.0 m/s and B has a velocity of + 2.0 m/s. Determine mB. Assume that It is an elastic collision.

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Dane Wolfe · Answer 1

As collision is elastic, thus we can use conservation of momentum equation

mA=0.2 kg

(vB) 1=0 m/s ... as it is on rest before collision

(vA) 1=4 m/s

(vA) 2=-1 m/s

(vB) 2=2 m/s

using equation

(mA*vA+mB*vB) 1 = (mA*vA+mB*vB) 2

Where 1 and 2 represents before and after collision

(0.2*4) + (mB*0) = (0.2*-1) + (mB*2)

0.8=-0.2 + (2mB)

mass of object B=mB=0.3 Kg