Physics 111: Lecture 16

Todays Agenda

Elastic collisions in two dimensions

Examples (nuclear scattering, billiards)

Impulse and average force

Physics 111: Lecture 16, Pg 1

 Elastic Collision of 2 objects in 2-D
Ice table

Precollision Postcollision

m1 v1,i m1 v1,f

CM CM
VCM VCM

m2 v2,i m2
v2,f
VCM is constant since P is conserved!!

Physics 111: Lecture 16, Pg 2

 Energy in Elastic Collisions:

Recall from the previous lecture:

v *1,i v *1,f
2 2

In 1 dimension this means:

v*1,f = -v* 1,i v*2,f = -v*2,i

In 2 or more dimensions:

v *1,i v *1,f v * 2 ,i v * 2 ,f

Physics 111: Lecture 16, Pg 3

 Elastic Collisions:

So we see that: v *1,i v *1,f v * 2 ,i v * 2 ,f

CM Frame: v*1,f
v*1,i

CM

v*2,i

v*2,f

= scattering angle

Physics 111: Lecture 16, Pg 4

 Lecture 16, Act 1
Elastic Collisions Golf & bowling
Consider the two elastic collisions shown below. In 1, a golf ball
moving with speed V hits a stationary bowling ball head on. In 2,
a bowling ball moving with the same speed V hits a stationary
golf ball.
In which case does the golf ball have the greater speed
after the collision?
(a) 1 (b) 2 (c) same

V
V
1 2

Physics 111: Lecture 16, Pg 5

 Lecture 16, Act 1
Solution
The speed of approach of two objects before an elastic collision
is the same as the speed of recession after colliding.

Since the bowling ball is much heavier than the golf ball,
its speed will be changed very little in either collision.

V
V
1 2

Physics 111: Lecture 16, Pg 6

 Lecture 16, Act 1
Solution
In case 1 the bowling ball will almost remain at rest, and the
golf ball will bounce back with speed close to V.

In case 2 the bowling ball will keep going with speed close to
V, hence the golf ball will rebound with speed close to 2V.

V 2V
V
1 2

Physics 111: Lecture 16, Pg 7

 2-D Elastic Collision of 2 objects
Suppose we know what the pre-collision velocities are.
We want to find out about the motion of both objects after
the collision.
We want v1x,f , v1y,f , v2x,f , v2y,f
What else do we know :
In an elastic collision, kinetic energy is conserved as
well as momentum. This leads to 3 equations:
Ef = Ei
Px,f = Px,i (where Px = p1x + p2x = m1v1x + m2v2x etc)
Py,f = Py,i
We have 3 equations and 4 unknowns:
We need more information (scattering angle, masses).

Physics 111: Lecture 16, Pg 8

 2-D Elastic Collision:
Nuclear Scattering
A particle of unknown mass M is initially at rest. A particle of
known mass m is shot at it with initial momentum pi . After
the particles collide, the new momentum of the shot particle pf
is measured.
Figure out what M is in terms of pi and pf and m.

at rest P
M
M
m
pi
m pf
initial

final

Physics 111: Lecture 16, Pg 9

 2-D Elastic Collision:
Nuclear Scattering
We know:
pi, pf, m y at rest

We want to find:
x m pi M
Px, Py, M
initial
We have 3 equations:
1) Momentum conservation in the x direction
2) Momentum conservation in the y direction P
3) Energy conservation
pf
So we can solve the problem! final

Physics 111: Lecture 16, Pg 10

 Aside: Kinetic Energy

We know that K = 1/2mv2

Kinetic energy can also be expressed in
terms of momentum:

K = 1/2mv2

m 2v 2

2m
( m v )2 p2
K=
2m 2m

Physics 111: Lecture 16, Pg 11

 2-D Elastic Collision:
Nuclear Scattering
P pf
Using momentum conservation: pi = pf + P
So P2 = (pi -pf )2
pi
Using kinetic energy conservation:
p i2 pf2 P 2 p i2 pf2
+ P2 2M -
2m 2m 2M 2m 2m

P 2 (p i - p f )
2
and using
(pi - pf )2
M m 2
- 2
p i p f

Physics 111: Lecture 16, Pg 12

 2-D Elastic Collision:
Nuclear Scattering
P pf
(pi - pf )2
So we find that M m 2
p i - p f
2 pi

If we measure pi and pf and we know m we can measure M.

We can learn about something we cant see!

This is the basic idea behind a large body of work done in

atomic, nuclear and particle physics.

Physics 111: Lecture 16, Pg 13

 Rutherford Backscattering

Shoot a beam of particles (helium nuclei) having known

energy Ei into a sample of unknown composition. Measure
the energy Ef of the particles that bounce back out at
~180o with respect to the incoming beam.

Ei unknown
stuff
Ei

particle detector
(measures energy)

Physics 111: Lecture 16, Pg 14

 Rutherford Backscattering
(pi - pf )2 pf P
M m 2
p i - p f
2
pi
In the 180o case, this simplifies significantly:
(p i + pf )2 (v i + v f )(v i + v f )

M m 2 2
m
p i - pf (v i + v f )(v i - v f )
(v i + vf )
vf vi
(M - m )
M m
(v i - vf ) (M + m )
Solving for M:
1 mv f 2 M - m 2
Ef
2 m1 + Ef
Ei 1 mv i 2 M + m Ei
2 M
Ef
1 - E
i

Physics 111: Lecture 16, Pg 15

 Rutherford Backscattering

Shoot a beam of particles (helium nuclei) having known

energy Ei into a sample of unknown composition. Measure
the energy Ef of the particles that bounce back out at
~180o with respect to the incoming beam.

Ei
unknown m1 + Ef
Ei
stuff M
Ei Ef
-
Ei
1

particle detector
So we learn about the mass of the nuclei
(measures energy)
in the unknown stuff. (We learn what the
stuff is).

Physics 111: Lecture 16, Pg 16

 Rutherford Backscattering

For example: Suppose we are shooting particles that

have an initial energy of Ei = 2 MeV at a target made of an
unknown material. The particles return with final energy
Ef = 1.1 MeV. What is the weight of the unknown material?
m() = 4 (2 protons, 2 neutrons)

m1 + Ef
Ei

(
4 1 + 1.1 )
2
(1 - 1.1 )
So M M = 27
Ef
1 - E 2
i Aluminum!! (13 protons,
14 neutrons)

Physics 111: Lecture 16, Pg 17

 Another example of 2-D elastic
collisions: Billiards.
If all we know is the initial velocity of the cue ball, we dont
have enough information to solve for the exact paths after
the collision. But we can learn some useful things...

Physics 111: Lecture 16, Pg 18

 Billiards.

Consider the case where one ball is initially at rest.

pf
pi
vcm

F Pf

initial The final direction of the final

red ball will depend on
where the balls hit.

Physics 111: Lecture 16, Pg 19

 Billiards

We know momentum is conserved: pi = pf + Pf

pi2 = (pf + Pf )2 = pf2 + Pf2 + 2 pf Pf

We also know that kinetic energy is conserved:

p 2i pf2 Pf 2 p 2i pf2 + Pf 2
+
2m 2m 2m

Comparing these two equations tells us that:

pf Pf = 0 Pf
pf
Therefore, pi and pf must be orthogonal!
pi

Physics 111: Lecture 16, Pg 20

 Billiards.

The final directions are separated by 90o.

pf
pi
vcm

F Pf

initial final

Physics 111: Lecture 16, Pg 21

 Billiards.

So, we can sink the red ball without sinking the white ball.

Physics 111: Lecture 16, Pg 22

 Billiards.

So, we can sink the red ball without sinking the white ball.
However, we can also scratch. All we know is that the
angle between the balls is 90o.

Physics 111: Lecture 16, Pg 23

 Billiards.

Tip: If you shoot a ball spotted on the dot, you will sink
both balls !

Physics 111: Lecture 16, Pg 24

 Lecture 16, Act 2
Elastic Collisions in 2-D
A moving ball initially traveling in the direction shown hits an
identical but stationary ball. The collision is elastic.
Describe one possible direction of both balls just after the
collision.

(a) (b) (c)

Physics 111: Lecture 16, Pg 25

 Lecture 16, Act 2
Solution
In the first solution, the angle between the balls is not 90o.

In the second solution, there are no downward y components to

balance out the upward y components.

Physics 111: Lecture 16, Pg 26

 Lecture 16, Act 2
Solution
The third choice both balances the y components and has 90o
between the final direction vectors of the two balls.

As a result, the third choice is the only one of the three that fits all
necessary criteria.

Physics 111: Lecture 16, Pg 27

 Collision timescales

Collisions typically involve interactions that happen quickly.

vf
vi

F Vf

initial final
The balls are in contact
for a very short time.

Physics 111: Lecture 16, Pg 28

 Collision timescales

During this brief time, the forces involved can be quite large

t
t1 t5
t2 t4
t3
p1
p2
p3 = 0 p5
p4

F2 F4

F3
Physics 111: Lecture 16, Pg 29
 Force and Impulse

The diagram shows the force vs. time for a typical collision.
The impulse, I, of the force is a vector defined as the
integral of the force during the collision.

I tt F dt
i
f

Impulse I = area under this curve !

t
t
Impulse has units of Ns. ti tf

Physics 111: Lecture 16, Pg 30

 Force and Impulse

dP
Using F
dt
the impulse becomes:
F
dP
I ttif F dt ttifdt
dt
t if dP Pf - Pi P
t

I P

t
impulse = change in momentum! t
ti tf

Physics 111: Lecture 16, Pg 31

 Force and Impulse
Egg
Two different collisions can have
the same impulse since I depends
only on the change in momentum,
not the nature of the collision.
F

F same area

t t t
ti tf t
t big, F small ti tf
t small, F big
Physics 111: Lecture 16, Pg 32
 Force and Impulse

soft spring

F
stiff spring

t
t t
ti tf t
t big, F small ti tf
t small, F big
Physics 111: Lecture 16, Pg 33
 Lecture 16, Act 3
Force & Impulse
Two boxes, one heavier than the other, are initially at rest on a
horizontal frictionless surface. The same constant force F acts
on each box for exactly 1 second.
Which box has the most momentum after the force acts?

(a) heavier (b) lighter (c) same

F F
light heavy

Physics 111: Lecture 16, Pg 34

 Lecture 16, Act 3
Solution

p
We know Fav so p Fav t
t

In this problem F and t are the same for both boxes!

The boxes will have the same final momentum.

F F
light heavy

Physics 111: Lecture 16, Pg 35

 Force and Impulse
We can use the notion of impulse to define average force,
which is a useful concept.

The time average of a force for the F

time interval t = tf - ti is:

1 t f
I
Fav F dt
t t i
t Fav

t
P t
or: Fav
t ti tf

Physics 111: Lecture 16, Pg 36

 Ball-Block
Force and Impulse Collisions

soft spring

F
Fav
F
stiff spring
Fav

t t t
ti tf t
t big, Fav small ti tf
t small, Fav big
Physics 111: Lecture 16, Pg 37
 Force and Impulse:
Baseball Example

A pitcher pitches the ball (m = .7 kg)

at 145 km/hr (about 90 mph).

The batter makes contact with the

ball for .001 s causing the ball to
leave the bat going 190 km/hr
(about 120 mph).

Find the average force on the ball,

disregarding gravity.

Physics 111: Lecture 16, Pg 38

 Baseball Example

First convert everything to m/s:

145 km/hr = 40.28 m/s
190 km/hr = 52.78 m/s
Next find the change in momentum ( = the impulse):

Pf - Pi = (.7 kg)(52.78 m/s) - (.7 kg)(-40.28 m/s)

Pf - Pi = 65.14 kg-m/s

Finally find the average force:

p 65.14 Ns
Fav 65142 N
t .001s

Physics 111: Lecture 16, Pg 39

 Recap of todays lecture

Two-dimensional elastic collisions. (Text: 8-6)

Examples (nuclear scattering, billiards). (Text: 8-6)

Impulse and average force. (Text: 8-6)

Look at textbook problems Chapter 8: # 45, 47, 49, 89, 124, 137

Physics 111: Lecture 16, Pg 40