- #1
Fariaz Haque
- 5
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Homework Statement
Particle A has a mass of 1kg and velocity 2x10^8m/s to the right and collides with a stationary particle B that has a mass of 4kg. after the collision, particle A moves to the left with a velocity(v) and particle B moves to the right with a velocity of 1x10^7 m/s. calcuate the value of 'v'.
i get a value of 1.6x10^8 for v but shouldn't it be -1.6x10^8 as it is moving to the left?
The thing is, in other collisions where two objects moving towards each other collide and then move apart after the collision, the answer justifies the direction just fine. for example...
An example: Particle C has a mass of 1kg and velocity 2x10^8 m/s to the right and collides with particle D that has a mass of 4kg and is moving to the left at 1.5x10^8 m/s. after the collision, particle C moves to the left with a velocity(v) and particle D moves to the right with a velocity of 2x10^7 m/s. calcuate the value of 'v'.
solution: (2x10^8 x 1) + [4 x (-1.5x10^8) ] = (1x v) + (4x 2x10^7)
v= -0.48x10^9(here the answer justifies the direction)
Homework Equations
:[/B]momentum before collision= momentum after collision
The Attempt at a Solution
momentum before collision= momentum after collision
(2x10^8 x 1) + (4x0) = (1xv) + (1x10^7 x 4)
v= 1.6x10^8