2013: Problem 14

Topic: Collisions
Concepts: 1D elastic collision, CM frame


Solution:

Initially, mass mm is moving at 12m/s12\,\mathrm{m/s} towards the 4kg4\,\mathrm{kg} mass at rest.

We go to the CM frame (moving at vCMv_{\text{CM}}):

Recall the total linear momentum ptot=MtotvCMp_{\text{tot}}=M_{\text{tot}}v_{\text{CM}} so ptot=0p_{\text{tot}}=0 in the CM frame (since the CM is at rest by definition). Then after an elastic collision, the velocities just flip directions: The speeds of both objects stay the same which conserves energy. Flipping velocities changes the sign of the momentum. But ptot=ptot-p_{\text{tot}}=p_{\text{tot}} since ptot=0p_{\text{tot}}=0 so momentum is also conserved.

Lastly, we go back to the ground frame (adding velocity vCMv_{\text{CM}} to the right on both objects):

We are given that mass mm moves to the left with velocity 6m/s6\,\mathrm{m/s}. Thus,

12m/s2vCM=6m/s12\,\mathrm{m/s}-2v_{\text{CM}}=6\,\mathrm{m/s}
vCM=3m/sv_{\text{CM}}=3\,\mathrm{m/s}

so the answer is B.

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