Physics Problem
<div class="IPBDescription">2 spheres collide!</div> Ok, we have 2 spheres of mass m1 and m2. They are traveling at initial velocities v1 and v2. After they collide they are traveling at velocities w1 and w2.
m1, m2, v1, and v2 are give. We need to solve for w1 and w2. 2 unknowns needs 2 equations.
Conservation of momentum: (m1)(v1) + (m2)(v2) = (m1)(w1) + (m2)(w2)
Conservation of kenetic energy: (1/2)(m1)(v1)^2 + (1/2)(m2)(v2)^2 = (m1)(w1)^2 + (1/2)(m2)(w2)^2
So all you have to do now is do some substitution and things are good. But I can't seem to get it to work right. I've Googled the hell out of it, but nothing seems to show the full generic solution.
NOTE: You can assume that the velocities are 1 dimentional because solving it in more than one dimention just requires that you break up the components and solve them separately.
Advice?
m1, m2, v1, and v2 are give. We need to solve for w1 and w2. 2 unknowns needs 2 equations.
Conservation of momentum: (m1)(v1) + (m2)(v2) = (m1)(w1) + (m2)(w2)
Conservation of kenetic energy: (1/2)(m1)(v1)^2 + (1/2)(m2)(v2)^2 = (m1)(w1)^2 + (1/2)(m2)(w2)^2
So all you have to do now is do some substitution and things are good. But I can't seem to get it to work right. I've Googled the hell out of it, but nothing seems to show the full generic solution.
NOTE: You can assume that the velocities are 1 dimentional because solving it in more than one dimention just requires that you break up the components and solve them separately.
Advice?
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
/me runs
Also, is this an elastic or inelastic collision?
{Edit}
Constants as in the masses and velocities.
IRT Doom; Physics, not Maths, Physics is real, math isnt <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
I could figure it out. In fact, I probably will (though I'm not guaranteeing anything). If I do, I will edit this post.
Stupid != Cool.
Stupid == Stupid.
Physics == Pwn.
Math == Ok.
{Edit}
You got in before my post lost, I'll just plug in some dummy values and see what I get. Even so I havent done physics for a long long time...
m1, m2, v1, and v2 are give. We need to solve for w1 and w2. 2 unknowns needs 2 equations.
Conservation of momentum: (m1)(v1) + (m2)(v2) = (m1)(w1) + (m2)(w2)
<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Okay, so that breaks down into (((m1)(v1) + (m2)(v2)) - (m2)(w2))/(w1) = (m1) for 'easy' substitution. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->
Conservation of kenetic energy: (1/2)(m1)(v1)^2 + (1/2)(m2)(v2)^2 = (m1)(w1)^2 + (1/2)(m2)(w2)^2
So all you have to do now is do some substitution and things are good. But I can't seem to get it to work right. I've Googled the hell out of it, but nothing seems to show the full generic solution.
NOTE: You can assume that the velocities are 1 dimentional because solving it in more than one dimention just requires that you break up the components and solve them separately.
Advice?<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Advice is to pay attention to your classes and schoolwork more closely. Off-Topic is not a cheat or crib sheet.
<span style='color:red'>*LOCKED.*</span>