Question

Two basketballs of equal mass are rolling toward each other at constant velocities. The first basketball (B1) has a velocity of 4.3 m/s, and the second basketball (B2) has a velocity of -4.3 m/s.

If these basketballs have a perfectly elastic collision, B1 will have a final velocity of _______, and B2 will have a final velocity

Answer 1

$v'_2 = \frac{2m_1}{m_1+m_2} (4.3) - \frac{m_1-m_2}{m_1+m_2} (4.3)\\\\v'_1 = \frac{m_1-m_2}{m_1+m_2} (4.3) + \frac{2m_2}{m_1+m_2} (4.3)$

Explanation:

Velocity of B₁ = 4.3m/s

Velocity of B₂ = -4.3m/s

For perfectly elastic collision:, momentum is conserved

$m_1v_1 + m_2v_2 = m_1v'_1 + m_2v'_2$

where,

m₁ = mass of Ball 1

m₂ = mass of Ball 2

v₁ = initial velocity of Ball 1

v₂ = initial velocity of ball 2

v'₁ = final velocity of ball 1

v'₂ = final velocity of ball 2

The final velocity of the balls after head on elastic collision would be

$v'_2 = \frac{2m_1}{m_1+m_2} v_1 - \frac{m_1-m_2}{m_1+m_2} v_2\\\\v'_1 = \frac{m_1-m_2}{m_1+m_2} v_1 + \frac{2m_2}{m_1+m_2} v_2$

Substituting the velocities in the equation

$v'_2 = \frac{2m_1}{m_1+m_2} (4.3) - \frac{m_1-m_2}{m_1+m_2} (4.3)\\\\v'_1 = \frac{m_1-m_2}{m_1+m_2} (4.3) + \frac{2m_2}{m_1+m_2} (4.3)$

If the masses of the ball is known then substitute the value in the above equation to get the final velocity of the ball.