Physics

Problem

A particle A of mass

0.20\,\text{kg}

is moving along the positive

x

-axis with an unknown speed

u

when it collides elastically with an identical particle B that is initially at rest at the origin. After the collision, particle A moves with a speed

2.60\,\text{m}\,\text{s}^{-1}

at an angle of

30^{\circ}

above the

x

-axis, while particle B moves with a speed

1.50\,\text{m}\,\text{s}^{-1}

at an angle of

60^{\circ}

below the

x

-axis. Solve the following parts. a. (i) Write the separate component equations that relate the particle momenta before and after the collision. b. (ii) Use these equations to find the initial speed

u

of particle A. c. (iii) Show, by suitable calculation, that the total kinetic energy of the two particles is the same before and after the collision.

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