Physics 211
Mechanics
Spring Semester, 2024
Lecture 17
2024-03-15 Physics 211 Copyright Penn State 2024 1
Momentum conservation
2
Reading quiz
3
v1,i
Collisions v1,i
v2,i
v2,i
v1,i
Two objects interact only with v2,i
each other for a short time.
The total momentum is the SAME v1,f v2,f
before and after the collision. v1,f v2,f
v1,f v2,f
Each object’s momentum changes
Momentum
∆p1 = pf,1 – pi,1 = J1 ptot = p1 + p2
⇒ Impulse on object 1
p=0
J1 = - J2 when objects 1 and 2 collide
4
Elastic vs inelastic collisions
All collisions conserve the total momentum
(assumptions: brief interaction, no significant external
forces operate)
perfectly elastic collision: objects bounce off each other
no loss of energy total kinetic energy is conserved
perfectly inelastic collision: objects stick together
inelastic collision: objects bounce off imperfectly
some energy loss
the case for most collisions
5
Inelastic collision 1
The 1kg box collides with and sticks to
the 2 kg box.
Afterward, their
speed is:
A. 0 m/s. Frictionless surface
B. 1 m/s.
C. 1.5 m/s.
D. 3 m/s.
E. not enough info given.
6
Answer: inelastic collision 1
Frictionless surface
7
Inelastic collision 2
The two boxes collide and stick
together.
Afterward, their
speed is:
Frictionless surface
A. 8/3 m/s to the left.
B. 1 m/s to the left.
C. 1 m/s to the right.
D. 8/3 m/s to the right.
E. none of the above. 8
Answer: inelastic collision 2
Frictionless surface
9
The Age of Chivalry
inelastic collisions
10
Blocks and vb vB
mA
bullets mB mB
Identical bullets are fired at identical speeds at two nearly
identical blocks sitting on a frictionless table. Block A absorbs
the bullet (they stick) while block B bounces the bullet
backward. Which statement is correct?
A. “Everything is the same so the speed of the blocks after
the collision will also be the same”.
B. “Don’t forget momentum. The bullet transfers all its
momentum to block A, so A will go faster”.
C. “The bounce is important. B will go faster because the
bullet bounces backward”.
D. They are all wrong. 11
Answer: blocks and bullets
12
Light sail Photons from the Sun
push spacecraft
White sail
Photons bounce off
Black sail
Photons absorbed
What color sail A) Black C) Gray
is best? B) White D) Doesn’t matter
13
Elastic collisions
Conserve momentum (for all collisions):
Conserve energy (only if elastic):
final velocities:
𝑚𝑚1 −𝑚𝑚2 2𝑚𝑚2
𝑣𝑣1𝑓𝑓 = 𝑣𝑣 + 𝑣𝑣2𝑖𝑖
𝑚𝑚1 +𝑚𝑚2 1𝑖𝑖 𝑚𝑚1 +𝑚𝑚2
𝑚𝑚2 −𝑚𝑚1 2𝑚𝑚1
𝑣𝑣2𝑓𝑓 = 𝑣𝑣 + 𝑣𝑣1𝑖𝑖
𝑚𝑚1 +𝑚𝑚2 2𝑖𝑖 𝑚𝑚1 +𝑚𝑚2
or: 14
Dropping balls A question
Drop a ball and it bounces
What
happens?
A) basketball bounces higher
B) tennis ball bounces higher
C) they bounce as high as before
D) it’s random 15
Dropping balls: solution
1
16
Ball-box collision
17
