Elastic collision of pendulum bobs · PhysicsBowl 2025 #12

Physics · mechanics

Problem

A simple pendulum consists of a small mass m attached to a massless string of length L. It is displaced to an angle θ0\theta_0 from the vertical and released from rest. Assume no air resistance. At the lowest point of its swing, the pendulum bob collides elastically with another stationary bob of equal mass m, which is free to move after the collision. What is the maximum angle θf\theta_f the original pendulum bob reaches after the collision? a. θf=θ0\theta_f = \theta_0 b. θf=θ0/4\theta_f = \theta_0/4 c. θf=θ0/2\theta_f = \theta_0/2 d. θf=0\theta_f = 0 e. θf=2θ0\theta_f = 2\theta_0

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