COLLISIONS

Collisions occur when one object strikes another. Problems involving collisions are usually solved
using conservation of momentum and conservation of energy
There are two types of collisions:
1. Inelastic collisions: momentum is conserved

The figure shows an inelastic collision between two particles, both of mass 𝑚m, in
which Δ𝐾=𝑋JΔK=XJ of sound and heat are produced by the collision. The particle motion
involved in the sound and heat has net zero momentum.
2. Elastic collisions: momentum is conserved and kinetic energy is conserved

In the figure, before the collision, particle A with mass 𝑚𝖠mA is moving towards particle B with a
speed 𝑢𝖠uA, while particle B with mass 𝑚𝖡mB is moving towards particle B with a speed 𝑢𝖡uB. If the
collision is elastic, both momentum and kinetic energy must be conserved.

[A] m1v1i + m2v2i = m1v1f + m2v2f

[B] 1/2 m1(v1i)2 + 1/2 m2(vi)2 = 1/2 m1(v1f)2 + 1/2 m2 (v2f)2
Wherein:
KE = kinetic energy
p = momentum
m = mass, kg
mi = mass of 1st object
m2= mass of 2nd object
v = velocity, m/s
v1 = velocity of 1st object
v2 = velocity of 2nd object
vi = initial velocity
vf = final velocity

EXAMPLES:

1) A red ball of mass 0.2 kg hits a blue ball of mass 0.25 kg, in an elastic collision, and the red ball
comes to a stop. The red ball has a velocity of 5 m/s, and the blue ball was at rest. What is the
final velocity of the blue ball?
Answer: The mass of the 1st ball, m1 = 0.2 kg; the mass of the 2nd ball, m2 = 0.25kg. The initial velocity
of the 1st ball, v1i = 5 m/s; the initial velocity of the 2nd ball, v2i = 0; the final velocity of the 1st ball, (v1f)
= 0.
m1v1i + m2v2i = m1v1f + m2v2f
(0.2 kg)(5 m/s) + (0.25 kg)(0 m/s) = (0.2 kg)(0) + (0.25 kg)(v2f)
1.0 kg.m/s + 0 = 0 + (0.25 kg)(v2f)
1.0 kg.m/s = (0.25 kg)(v2f)
(1.0 kg.m/s) / 0.25 kg = (v2f)
4 m/s = (v2f)

2) Use the equation for conservation of kinetic energy in an elastic collision to determine the final
velocity for the blue ball.
Answer: The mass of the 1st ball, m1 = 0.2 kg; the mass of the 2nd ball, m2 = 0.20kg. The initial velocity
of the 1st ball, v1i = 5 m/s; the initial velocity of the 2nd ball, v2i = 0; the final velocity of the 1st ball, (v1f)
= 0.
1/2 m1(v1i)2 + 1/2 m2(vi)2 = 1/2 m1(v1f)2 + 1/2 m2 (v2f)2
1/2 (0.2 kg)(5m/s)2 + 1/2 (0.2 kg)(0) = 1/2 (0.2 kg)(0) + 1/2 (0.2 kg)(v2f)2
1/2 (0.2 kg)(5m/s)2 = 1/2 (0.2 kg)(v2f)2
(5m/s)2 = (v2f)2
25 m2/s2 = (v2f)2
v2f = √25 m2/s2
v2f = 5 m/s
SOURCES:

https://isaacphysics.org/concepts/cp_collisions

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/elacol.html

http://www.softschools.com/formulas/physics/elastic_collision_formula/67/#:~:targetText=An%20elast
ic%20collision%20is%20a,and%20po%20%3D%20pf.&targetText=And%2C%20since%20p%20%3D%20lin
ear%20momentum,1f%20%2B%20m2v2f.