Question

The drawing shows a collision between two small balls. Ball 1 has a mass of 100 g and is moving along the x axis with a velocity of 4.40 m/s. It makes a collision with ball 2, which has a mass of 150 g and is initially at rest. After the collision, the two balls fly apart with angles as shown in the figure below (Theta = 48

Answer 1

Since there is no picture given, I will have to guess which angle goes with which ball. Make sure, in future posts, if you refer to a figure because it is needed to solve the problem, provide it for us so we don't have to guess.

So, here is my solution based on the 48^o angle goes with ball 1

Conservation of momentum in the x direction...

(.1)(4.4) + 0 = (.1)(v)(cos 48) + (.15)(u)(cos 44)

.44 = .0669v + .1079u

In the y direction, there is no initial momentum, so for the final...

(1.)vsin48 = (.15)(u)(sin 44)

.07431v = .1042u

v = 1.402u

Sub that in to the x direction...

.44 = .0669(1.402u) + .1079u

.44 = .2017u

u = 2.18 m/s