PHYSICS 71

Chapter 8 Momentum, Impulse, and Collisions

24 2D Collisions
Elastic Collisions

National Institute of Physics

College of Science
University of the Philippines Diliman
Elastic Collisions
Conservation of momentum:
𝑚A 𝑣A + 𝑚B 𝑣B = 𝑚A 𝑣A′ + 𝑚B 𝑣B′
Conservation of kinetic energy:
1 1 1 ′2 1 2
𝑚A 𝑣A + 𝑚B 𝑣B = 𝑚A 𝑣A + 𝑚B 𝑣B′
2 2
2 2 2 2
After some algebraic manipulation
𝑣𝐵′ − 𝑣𝐴′ = − 𝑣𝐵 − 𝑣𝐴
𝒎𝑨 𝒗𝑨 + 𝒎𝑩 𝒗𝑩 = 𝒎𝑨 𝒗′𝑨 + 𝒎𝑩 𝒗′𝑩
𝒗′𝑩 −𝒗′𝑨 = − 𝒗𝑩 − 𝒗𝑨
This tells us that their relative velocities before and after
collision have the same magnitude but opposite in direction.
Collisions in 1D Example 1
Object A with mass mA = 2.00 kg and velocity 𝑣Ԧ𝐴 = 4.00 m/s to
the right collides in an elastic collision with object B with
mass mB = 6.00 kg and velocity 𝑣Ԧ𝐵 = 1.00 m/s to the left. What
is the velocity of A after collision?
Solution:
Conservation of momentum:
𝑚A 𝑣A + 𝑚B 𝑣B = 𝑚A 𝑣A′ + 𝑚B 𝑣B′ (1)
The problem is we have two unknowns, 𝑣A′ and 𝑣B′ . We need
another equation. We can use the derived relative velocities
expression.
𝑣𝐵′ − 𝑣𝐴′ = − 𝑣𝐵 − 𝑣𝐴 (2)
Substitute values in (1) (I’ll omit the units for brevity):
(2)(4) + 6 −1 = (2)𝑣A′ + (6)𝑣B′
𝑣A′ + 3𝑣B′ = 1 (3)
Collisions in 1D Example 1
Substitute values in (2):
𝑣𝐵′ − 𝑣𝐴′ = − (−1) − (4)
𝑣𝐵′ − 𝑣𝐴′ = 5 (4)
Solve for 𝑣𝐴′ and 𝑣𝐵′ in (3) and (4):
𝑣𝐴′ = −3.50 m/s: 𝑣𝐵′ = 1.50 m/s

𝑣𝐴′ = −(3.50 m/s)𝑖.Ƹ

Collisions in 2D
 Momentum is a vector quantity
 Conservation of momentum:
𝑝Ԧ𝐴 + 𝑝Ԧ𝐵 = 𝑝Ԧ𝐴′ + 𝑝Ԧ𝐵′
 Conservation of momentum means conservation of its
components.
 In two dimensions
➢ Conservation of momentum along x
′ ′
𝑝𝐴𝑥 + 𝑝𝐵𝑥 = 𝑝𝐴𝑥 + 𝑝𝐵𝑥
➢ Conservation of momentum along y
′ ′
𝑝𝐴𝑦 + 𝑝𝐵𝑦 = 𝑝𝐴𝑦 + 𝑝𝐵𝑦
Let’s Volt In
Spheres A (mass 0.020 kg), B (mass 0.030 kg),
and C (mass 0.050 kg) are approaching the
origin as they slide on a frictionless air table.
The initial velocities of A and B are given in the
figure. All three spheres arrive at the origin at
the same time and stick together.
a) What must the x- and y-components of the
initial velocity of C be if all three objects are
to end up moving at 0.50 m/s in the +x-
direction after the collision?
b) If C has the velocity found in part (a), what
is the change in the kinetic energy of the
system of three spheres as a result of the
collision?
Collisions in 2D Example 2
WTPuck. Puck A has an initial velocity of +3.00 m/s along the x-axis.
It then collides with Puck B, which is initially at rest. After the collision,
the two pucks fly apart. Puck A is deflected at an angle 𝜃𝐴 = 50.0°
above the +x-axis and puck B got deflected at 𝜃𝐵 = 20.0° below the
+x-axis. If the two pucks have the same mass m, what is the
magnitude of the velocity of puck A right after the collision?

50.0O

m
20.0O

m
m
Collisions in 2D Example 3
U and I collide. Block U of mass m is released from rest
at the top of a hemispherical frictionless bowl with radius
R. It collides with block I of mass 3m that is initially at rest
at the bottom of the bowl. If the two blocks stick together
after collision, how high above the bottom of the bowl will
the masses go?
A. R
B. R/2
C. R/4
D. R/16
Example 4 (2D collision)
Figure below shows an elastic collision of two pucks
(masses 𝑚 = 0.500 𝑘𝑔 and 𝑚 = 0.300 𝑘𝑔) on an
frictionless air-hockey table. Puck A has an initial velocity of
4.00 𝑚/𝑠 in the positive 𝑥 − direction and a final velocity of
2.00 𝑚/𝑠 in an unknown direction 𝛼. Puck B is initially at
rest. Find the final speed 𝑣𝐵2 of puck B and the angles 𝛼 and
𝛽.

An elastic collision that

isn’t head-on
Example 4 (2D collision)
Figure below shows an elastic collision of two pucks (masses 𝑚 = 0.500 𝑘𝑔 and
𝑚 = 0.300 𝑘𝑔) on an frictionless air-hockey table. Puck A has an initial velocity
of 4.00 𝑚/𝑠 in the positive 𝑥 − direction and a final velocity of 2.00 𝑚/𝑠 in an
unknown direction 𝛼. Puck B is initially at rest. Find the final speed 𝑣𝐵2 of puck B
and the angles 𝛼 and 𝛽.
Elastic Collisions QUIZ
Balls of Steel. A 4.0-kg metal ball with an initial
momentum of 20.kg·m/s, collides with a 1.0- kg metal ball,
initially at rest. After collision, the final momenta of the 4.0-
kg and 1.0-kg metal balls are 16 kg·m/s and 4.0 kg·m/s,
respectively.
A. What is the change in energy of the system?
B. Is the collision elastic or inelastic?
Credits/References
 University Physics 13th Ed, H. Young and R. Freedman
Pearson Education 2014
 Physics 71 Lectures by J. Vance, M Flores, A Lacaba,
PJ Blancas, G Pedemonte, DL Sombillo, K Agapito