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The
total momentum of the system is a conserved quantity. Equating the
total momentum before and after the collision:
m1·vi1 + m2·vi2 = m1·vf1 + m2·vf2
This
equation is valid for any 1-dimensional collision. Note that, assuming
we know the masses of the colliding objects, the above equation
only fully describes the collision given the initial velocities
of both objects, and the final velocity of at least one of the objects.
An
elastic collision is one in which the total kinetic energy of the
two colliding objects is the same before and after the collision.
For an elastic collision, kinetic energy is conserved. That is:
0.5·m1·vi12 + 0.5·m2·vi22 = 0.5·m1·vf12 + 0.5·m2·vf22
The collision
is fully specied given the two initial velocities and masses of the
colliding objects. Combining the above equations gives a solution
to the final velocities for an elastic collision of two objects:
vf1 = [(m1 - m2)·vi1 + 2 m2·vi2]/(m1 + m2)
vf2 = [2 m1·vi1 - (m1 - m2)·vi2]/(m1 + m2)
Copyright
© 2004, Stephen R. Schmitt |