A particle of mass m1 and velocity v collides elastically (in one dimension) with a stationary particle of mass m2. What are the velocities of m1 and m2 after the collision?
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A particle of mass m1 and velocity v collides elastically with a particle of mass m2, initially at rest. |
After the collision, m1 has velocity v1, and m2 has velocity v2. What are v1 and v2? |
Also, since the collision is elastic, the total kinetic energy of the system is conserved.
(Equation 2)
Equations 1 and 2 form a system of 2 equations with 2 unknowns (v1 and v2). All you have to do is solve it. Alternatively, you can remember the solution for the general case.