P hysics 2 06 Examples with S olutions Momentum and Energy

Problem 1 . A skier starts from rest from atop a hill of elevation 30 m above the end of the ski run. If friction and air resistance could be ignored, what would be the speed of the skier at the bottom of the ski run? Solution : See the gure below.
1 y1 = H = 30m

2 y2 = 0

Since there are no dissipative forces the total energy of the system does not change. I ll take the zero for gravitational potential energy to be at the bottom of the run. So, E 1 = E2 1 1 2 2 m v 1 + m gE y1 = m v 2 + m gE y 2 2 2 2 v2 = 2 gE y 1 v 2 = 2 gE y 1 v 2 = 2 9. 8 30 m/ s v 2 = 24 m/s Problem 2 . A ( sticky) ball of mass 5 kg is dropped from a height of 20 m onto a vertical spring of spring constant k = 200 N/ m originally in its equilibrium position. A) What will be the maximum compression of the spring. B) If the ball sticks to the spring what will be the maximum extension of the spring when the ball rebounds? Solution : See the gure below.
m 3 Highest Point of Flight

2 y = 0, x = 0 1 k

Maximum Extension of Spring upon Rebound Equilibrium Position of Spring Point of Maximum Compression

Note that I have taken the equilibrium position for gravitational potential energy to be to be at the height of the relaxed spring. Employing conservation of energy, E 1 = E3 1 1 1 2 2 m v3 + m gE y 3 = m v 1 + k x2 1 + m gE y 1 2 2 2 1 m gE y 3 = k x 2 1 + m gE x 1 2 Here I have used the fact that y1 = x 1 . This leaves a quadratic to be solved for x 1 . Rearranging gives, k x 2 + x 1 y3 = 0 2 m gE 1 x1 = x1 = 1 1 + 2 k y 3 / m gE k / m gE 1 + 2( 200 20 / 5/ 9. 8 ) m = 3. 39 m , 2. 90 m ( 200 / 5 / 9. 8 ) 1

Using the quadratic formula:

The rst of these is the answer to A) and the second is the answer to B) . Problem 3. A block of mass 5 kg slides across a horizontal table at constant speed. The forces acting on the block are the gravitational pull of the earth, a 20 N horizontal pushing force, and the normal force that the table exerts on the book. A) Find the work done by each of these forces on the book. WG rav ity = FG s cos G , s = m gE s cos ( 90 ) = 0 , WN = N s cos ( N , s ) = N s cos ( 90 ) = 0 WP u sh = FP u sh s cos ( P , s ) = ( 20 N ( 2 m ) cos ( 0 ) = 40 Nm = 40 J B) What is the coecient of kinetic friction between the table and the book. WT = K = K f Ki = 0 WG + WN + WP u sh + WFric t = 0 0 + 0 + 40 J + WFric t = 0 WFric t = 40 J FFric t s cos F , s = 40 J K N s = K m gE s = 40 J 40 J 40 J K = = = . 41 m gE s ( 5 9. 8 2) J Problem 4. The gravitational force on a satellite in circular orbit around the earth is directed directly towards the center of the earth. A) Show that the gravitational force does not do any work on the satellite? The force is everwhere perpendicular to the incremental displacement of the satellite. The work done by the gravitational force is therfore zero. . B) Prove that a satellite in circular orbit under the inuence of gravity alone must have constant speed. By the work energy theorem: WT O T = K = 0 That is, the kinetic energy and so the speed of the satellite does not change. Problem 5. A block of mass 2 kg is pushed across a frictionless table by a 30 N force directed at an angle of 30 below the horizontal. The block starts at rest. A) Find the work done on the book by the pushing force during the rst 2 m of the book s motion. 2

B) Use the work energy theorem to nd the speed of the book after it has traveled 2 m. Solution : A) The work done is W = FP s cos ( ) = ( 30 N ) ( 2 m ) cos ( 30 ) = 52. 0 J B) No other forces do work on the block, W = K = K2 K1 W= v2 = 2W = m 1 2 m v2 0 2 2 52 m/ s = 7. 21 m/ s 2

Problem 6. A block of mass 2 kg has a speed of 1 0 m/s at the base of a long inclined plane. The plane is inclined at an angle of 30 . The block slides up the incline. The coecient of kinetic friction between the block and the incline is 0. 2. A) Find the size of the normal force that acts on the block. B) Find the frictional force that acts on the block. C) Use the work energy theorem to nd the distance ( measured along the incline) that the block travels before ( momentarily, perhaps) stopping. Solution : You should be able to abel to do parts A) and B) yourself using force methods. See me if you cannot. The answers are: A) N = m gE cos = 2 9. 8 cos ( 30 ) = 1 7. 0 N C) B) FK = K N = 0. 2 1 7. 0 N = 3. 40 N. The force is directed down the incline. WFric = K + U Take up to be + y and the zero for gravitational potential energy to be at the base of the incline. Let s be the distance traveled along the incline and H to be the height above base level when the block has traveled s along the incline. That is . Take conguration 1 to be the situation with the block at the base of the incline and concuration 2 to be the situation with the block at its highest point. The work energy theorem gives, FK s cos ( 1 80 ) = K2 K1 + U2 U1 1 2 + m gE H 0 FK s ( 1 ) = 0 m v 1 2 1 2 FK s = m v 1 + m gE s sin ( 30 ) 2 1 2 m v1 2 s= m gE sin ( 30 ) + FK 1 2 ( 1 0) 2 2 s= m = 7. 58 m 2 9. 8 sin ( 30 ) + 3. 4 Problem 7. ( 20 points) Consider the buried spring launcher shown below. The unstretched length of the spring places the launch pad at ground level. The launcher is designed to send small water balloons at unsuspecting people passing by the launcher. The frictionless launcher chute makes an angle of 45 degrees with the horizontal. Note that the water balloon loses contact with the spring at ground level. A) Find a symbolic expression for the launch speed of the balloon as a function of the mass of the balloon, the initial compression-distance of the spring, and the spring constant. 3

B) What happens if the initial compression-distance of the spring is less than

2 m gE / k ?

C) Find a symbolic expression for the range of the balloon ( you may borrow the range formula from an earlier chapter) as a function of the mass of the balloon, the initial compression-distance of the spring, and the spring constant. D) For spring constant k = 1 00 N/ m and m = 1 kg, plot the range of the balloon as a function of compression-distance. E) What compression-distance would be required to hit a target at a range of 5 m?
Range Compression Distance

45o

Solution : Let upwards be positive y and to the right be positive x. Take the zero level for gravitational potential energy to be at ground level. Call conguration 1 the one shown in the gure for which the spring is compressed a distance x 1 and the balloon is at a height y1 = x 1 sin ( 45 ) = x 1 / 2 . Note that both x 1 and y1 are negative. Call conguration 2 the situation in which the ball has reached ground level so that x 2 = 0 , y2 = 0 . Since I am eventually interested in the the range of the projectile as a function of the compression of he spring I will dene s = x 1 so that s represents the positive compression distance. A) Applying energy conservation E 1 = E2 1 2 k x 1 + m gE y 1 = 2 1 k x2 1 + m gE x1 / 2 2 1 k s 2 m gE s / 2 2 Solving for v 2 , v2 = s ks 2 m gE 1 2 m v2 2 1 2 = m v2 2 1 2 = m v2 2

B) Note that if the compression of the spring is too small, s < 2 m gE / k the function inside the square root in the expression for the speed at ground level becomes negative so that there are nor real solutions for the speed for these compressions. Physically this is sensible because if the spring is not compressed enough the balloon will never reach ground level. C) Using the result from an earlier chapter and noting that v 2 is the initial launch speed, the range of the projectile is, s k s 2 m gE 2 v2 2 R= sin ( 2 45 ) = gE m gE D) For the given parameters: R = ( 1 0. 2 / m ) s 2 2s 2 m gE / k 0. 1 386 m

A plot of R vs s is shown below. Note that the plot stats with s = 4

40 35 30 25

R (m)

20 15 10 5 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2

s (m)

E) From the plot is is evident that a compression of about 0. 8 m yields a range of 5 m. A more precise value can be found by solving the quadratic, 5 m = ( 1 0. 2 / m ) s 2 2 s I ll do this with MuPAD: e q1 : =5=1 0. 2* s ^ 2- s qrt( 2) * s ; 5 = 1 0. 2 s 2 s 2 ans : =f l oat( s ol ve ( e q1 , s ) ) ; { 0. 6342395359 , 0. 7728879244 }

The positive answer is the one of interest so a compression of 0. 773 m will yield a range of 5 m. Problem 8. In the energy chapter I showed you how to forces given the associated potential energies. In this problem I ll lead you through the procedure for nding potential energies given forces ( that act in one-dimension only) . For potentials that are functions of only one variable, Equations 6. 2 and 6. 3 give, Fx = Some dierential calculus allows for the rearrangement, Integrating both sides gives, d U = Fx d x
x

dU dx

U ( x) U ( x0) = A) Fx = C , C is a constant. C) Fx = Solution: A) B) Fx = k x ,

B , x2

Fx d x
x0

(1)

Use Equation ( 1 ) to derive the form of U ( x ) for the following forces: k is a constant.

B is a constant.

U ( x) = U ( x0 )

x0

C dx = ( C x )

x0

U ( x) = U ( x0) C x0 + C x 5

B)
x x

U ( x) = U ( x0)

x0

k x dx = k x 2 / 2

1 1 U ( x) = U ( x0 ) + k x2 k x2 0 2 2 C)
x

x0

U ( x) = U ( x0)

B / x 2 dx = ( B / x )
x0

x0

U ( x) = U ( x0 ) + B

1 1 x x0

Problem 9. Consider the 1 -Dimensional screened Coulomb potential U=A A) Find the force associated with this potential. B) Plot the force for A = 1 0 J and = 1 0 1 0 / m. Solution : A) I ll use the chain rule for dierentiation: Fx = dU dx A e x + x e x x

Fx = B)
2e+13 1.8e+13 1.6e+13 1.4e+13

A e x x2

Fx (N)

1.2e+13 1e+13 8e+12 6e+12 4e+12 2e+12 0 0 1e-11 2e-11 3e-11 4e-11 5e-11

x (m)

Problem 1 0. A) Two people throw identical balls from atop the same cli. Both balls have an initial speed of 40 m/ s. Ball 1 is projected at an angle of 50 degrees above the horizontal and ball 2 is projected at an angle of 1 0 degrees below the horizontal. Which ball will have the greater speed when it strikes ground on the level ground at the bottom of the cli? Ignore the eects of air resistance. C arefully justify your answer. The balls will have the same speed when they strike the ground. They start with the same total energy since they begin at the same height with the same speed. They end at the same height and so must have the same kinetic energy and therefore the same speed when they strike the ground. 6

B) Why is it advantageous to bend one s knees as one lands after jumping o a table? To come to a rest on the ground the force that the ground exerts must satisfy the impulse momentum theorem p FG r ou n d , average = t Bending one s knees increases the time that the stopping force acts and so reduces the size of the stopping force. The reduced force causes less damage. C) What is potential energy? Potential energy is the energy stored in a conguration of particles by virtue of the forces that the particles exert on each other. D) Does a stretched spring have more mass than an unstretched spring? Yes, U = m c 2 . Problem 1 1 . A block of mass 1 kg is compressed a distance of 2m on the horizontal spring shown below. The spring has a spring constant of k = 50 N/ m . The incline angle is 30 . After being released the block slides along a stretch of horizontal surface and then to a maximum height h up an incline as shown. A) If the surfaces are frictionless, nd the speed of the block as it leaves the spring. E 1 = E2 1 1 2 k x2 m v2 1 = 2 2 k x2 ( 50 ) ( 2 2 ) 1 = m/s = 1 4. 1 4 m/s 1 m

v2 =

B) If the surfaces are frictionless, nd the maximum height h . 1 k x 2 = m gE h 2 1 ( 50 ) ( 2 2 ) k x2 1 = = 1 0. 2 m h= 2 9. 8 2 gE C) If the coecient of kinetic friction between the block and both the horizontal surface and incline is 0. 2, nd the height h . Wf = E3 E1 Wf 1 + Wf 2 = m gE h ( 1 / 2) k x 2 1 k NF s F k Nin c s in c = m gE h ( 1 / 2) k x 2 1 k m gE s F k m gE cos ( ) h / sin ( ) = m gE h ( 1 / 2) k x 2 1 k x2 1 h ( 1 + k / tan ) = k s F 2 m gE h=
k x2 1 2 m gE

1 + k / tan 3

k s F

( 50 4) / ( 1 9. 6 ) ( 0. 2 ) ( 1 0 ) m = 6. 09 m 1 + 0. 2 / tan ( 30 )

2m

2 1 8m

= 30

h y=0

Problem 1 2 . Consider the ballistic pendulum setup shown below. 7

vi H m M

Assume that the bullet has a mass of m = 0. 01 kg and a speed before the collision of v 1 = 600 m/ s. The large block has a mass of 6 kg. Take the length of the rope to be L = 2 m. A) Find the speed of the block/ bullet system immediately after the bullet embeds in the block. Ph or , b ef = Ph or , a ft m 1 v 1 = ( m 1 + M ) Vaft ( 0. 01 ) 600 m 1 v1 = m/s = 0. 998 m/s Vaft = 6. 01 m1 + M B) Find the maximum height that the block reaches. Eb ot t om = EH 1 2 = ( m 1 + M ) gE H ( m 1 + M ) Vaft 2 2 2 0. 998 V m = . 051 m = 5. 1 cm H = aft = 2 gE 1 9. 6 Problem 1 3. A) A fully clothed person is in the middle of a large frictionless surface ( perhaps a slippery lake or better a scientically designed surface as large as a skating rink) . The person is originally at rest. How might this person, by themselves, get o the surface? Explain! Answer : The person could remove some clothes and throw them. To conserve momentum the person would necessarily move o in the other direction and so slide o the surface. Or the person could spit, blow hard, etc. . . B) Why is it useful to locate the center of mass of an object? Answer : The center of mass of a system of objects moves in response to external forces in the same way that a point particle located at the center of mass would. The center of mass undergoes relatively simple motion when compared to other points on the object. C) Why don t internal forces change the velocity of the center of mass of a system of objects? Answer: Due to Newton s third law of motion the internal forces cancel in pairs when summing all the forces to nd the net force on the object. Problem 1 4. A) In terms of impulse and momentum, why are golfers told to follow through on their swings? Answer : Following through extends the contact time. The same average force exerted for a longer time causes a larger change in momentum. The ball will leave the clubhead with greater speed if the golfer follows through and extends the contact time. B) Identical pumpkins are dropped from a rooftop. The rst pumpkin lands on concrete while the second pumpkin lands on a mattress. 1 . Which pumpkin undergoes the larger change of momentum in coming to rest. ( Assume that the top of the mattress is at ground level) . 8

Answer : The two pumpkins undergo the same change in momentum since they have the same mass and the same speed just before reaching ground level. 2. Which pumpkin experiences the larger average force as it comes to rest. Explain carefully. Answer : The pumpkin hitting the mattress experiences less average force than the pumpkin hitting the concrete because the give in the mattress allows the mattress pumpkin to be p brought to rest over a longer time period and Fave = t . For the same change in momentum a larger time over which the force acts reduces the needed average force. Problem 1 5. A 250 lb linebacker moving with a velocity of 8 m/ s northward collides head on with a running back of mass 200 lb. The velocity of the running back before the collision is 1 0 m/ s southward. The linebacker and running back stick together as a result of the collision. Assume that neither the running back or linebacker lose mass as a result of the collision. A) Find the velocity of the running back/ linebacker object immediately after the collision. Solution : Take the direction of the running back s velocity before the collision to be the positive xdirection. Label the common x-component of velocity of two football players after the collision V . Conservation of momentum allows, m rb v xrb + m lb v xlb = ( m rb + m lb ) V The weights, rather the masses, of the football players is species but the ratio of the weights is the same as the ratio of the masses, so, m v + m lb v xlb V = rb xrb m rb + m lb ( 200 ) ( 1 0 ) + ( 250 ) ( 8 ) V= m/ s = 0 . 200 + 250 The running back and linebacker come to rest as a result of the collision. B) What fraction of the initial kinetic energy is lost as a result of this collision? Solution : All of the initial kinetic energy is lost. C) Where did the lost kinetic energy go? Solution : Most of the lost kinetic energy went to damaging the bodies and equipment of the football players. Some of the lost energy went to heat and sound. Problem 1 6. Consider the two pendulum device shown below. The masses of the bobs at the end of the pendulae are the same. The pendulum on the left is pulled back so that it is at a height H and then released. The collision between the pendulum bobs is elastic. Quantitatively ( I mean with mathematical expressions) describe the subsequent motion of the two pendulum bobs. Justify your description!

Solution : Let each bob have mass m . Apply conservation of energy to the bob that is initially pulled back. Call position A its initial position and position B the position just before it strikes the other ball. The rope or wire of the pendulum does no work on the bob since it exerts a force that is perpendicular to the incremental displacement of the bob. So, calling y = 0 the position of the lower bob, E A = EB 1 2 m gE H = m v 2 2 v 2 = 2 gE H 9

Now let the bob initially pulled back be bob 1 and the other one be bob 2. The elastic collision equations can be used to nd the velocity components along the horizontal ( x ) direction after the collision. These equations are, ( m 1 m 2 ) v 1 xb + 2 m 2 v 2 xb ( m m ) 2 gE H + 2 m ( 0) = =0 v 1 xa = 2m ( m1 + m2 ) ( m 2 m 1 ) v 2 xb + 2 m 1 v 1 xb ( m m ) 0 + 2 m 2 gE H v 2 xa = = = 2 gE H = v 1 xb 2m m1 + m2 So the rst bob stops after the collision and the second moves o with the same speed that the rst had before the collision. Conservation of energy then will predict that the second bob will rise back to a height H . Then second bob swings down, stops as a result of the collision, causing the rst bob to swing back up to height H and then the process starts over again. . . Problem 1 7. Show carefully the steps leading from Equations 8. 21 and 8. 1 7 to Equations 8. 22 and 8. 23. Solution : The starting equations are v 1 xb + v 1 xa = v 2 xb + v 2 xa m 1 v 1 xb + m 2 v 2 xb = m 1 v 1 xa + m 2 v 2 xa Solve Equation 2 for v 2 xa : Use Equation 4 in Equation 3, v 2 xa = v 1 xb v 2 xb + v 1 xa ( 4) ( 2) ( 3)

m 1 v 1 xb + m 2 v 2 xb = m 1 v 1 xa + m 2 ( v 1 xb v 2 xb + v 1 xa ) m 1 v 1 xb + m 2 v 2 xb = ( m 1 + m 2 v 1 xa + m 2 v 1 xb m 2 v 2 xb ( m 1 m 2 ) v 1 xb + 2 m 2 v 2 xb = ( m 1 + m 2 ) v 1 xa ( m 1 m 2 ) v 1 xb + 2 m 2 v 2 xb v 1 xa = ( m1 + m2 ) Using Equation 4 in Equation 3 gives, ( m 1 m 2 ) v 1 xb + 2 m 2 v 2 xb ( m1 + m2 ) ( m 1 + m 2 ) v 1 xb ( m 1 m 2 ) v 2 xb + ( m 1 m 2 ) v 1 xb + 2 m 2 v 2 xb v 2 xa = m1 + m2 ( m 2 m 1 ) v 2 xb + 2 m 1 v 1 xb v 2 xa = m1 + m2 v 2 xa = v 1 xb v 2 xb + Problem 1 8.

( 5)

A) Is more damage done in an elastic or inelastic collision between two cars? Answer : In an elastic collision all of the initial kinetic energy in the cars is converted back into kinetic energy after the collision. There is no left over energy to do damage to the cars. Technically, in a perfectly elastic collision not damage would be done to the cars. In an inelastic collision the kinetic energy that the cars had before the collision is less than the kinetic energy they have after the collision. Some of the initial kinetic energy is transferred into heat, sound, and potential energy stored in the deformation of the cars caused by the collision. More damage is done in inelastic collisions. B) Build on the answer to part A) to explain why cars have bumpers? Answer : Cars have bumpers so that in low speed collisions the bumpers will allow the cars to elastically rebound from each other reconverting the energy stored in the pressed together bumpers back into kinetic energy of the cars, leaving little energy left to damage the cars. Problem 1 9. A block of mass 2 kg moving with a speed of 4 m/s collides with a stationary block of mass 2 kg. Assume that all motion before and after the collision occurs along a line. Find the nal velocities of the blocks if, A) The blocks stick together after the collision. 10

B) The collision is elastic. C) The total kinetic energy of the blocks after the collision is 75% of the total kinetic energy of the blocks before the collision. D) The coecient of restitution is 0. 3. Solution : For all four parts momentum is conserved and so the following equation applies: m 1 v 1 xb + m 2 v 2 xb = m 1 v 1 xa + m 2 v 2 xa m 1 v 1 xb = m 1 v 1 xa + m 2 v 2 xa v 1 xb = v 1 xa + v 2 xa A) In this case v 1 xa = v 2 xa V . Using this in Equation 6 gives, m 1 v 1 xb = ( m 1 + m 2 ) V V = m1 2 v 1 xb = ( 4 m/ s ) = 2 m/ s m1 + m2 4 ( 6)

B) I ll directly use the equations for elastic collisions: ( m 1 m 2 ) v 1 xb + 2 m 2 v 2 xb 0 + 0 = =0 m1 + m2 4 ( m 2 m 1 ) v 2 xb + 2 m 1 v 1 xb = v 1 xb = 4 m/ s v 2 xa = m1 + m2 v 1 xa = C) In addition to Equation 6: 1 1 1 2 2 2 m1 v1 m 1 v1 m2 v2 xb ( 3/ 4) = xa + xa 2 2 2 2 2 2 ( 3/ 4) v 1 xb = v 1 xa + v 2 xa Using Equation 6:
2 2 2 ( 3/ 4) v 1 xb = v 1 xa + v 1 xb v 1 xa ) 2 2 2 v1 xa 2 v 1 xb v 1 xa + ( 1 / 4) v 1 xb = 0 2 2 2 v 1 xb 4 v 1 xb 2 v 1 xb v 1 xa = 4 2 2 v 1 xa = v 1 xb = 2 2 m/s 4

Using this in Equation 6 gives, v 2 xa = v 1 xb v 1 xa = 2 2 m/ s

Assuming that the objects are impenetrable, v 1 xa < v 2 xa so the correct sign choices are, v 1 xa = 2 2 m/s 0. 586 m/ s v 2 xa 3. 41 4 m/ s D) Using Equation 8. 26 in the online text, = | v 2 xa v 1 xa | = 0. 3 | v 2 xb v 1 xb | v v 1 xa = 2 xa v 1 xb

( 7)

The sign in the numerator of equation 7 is chosen because physically v 2 xa > v 1 xa or else the rst particle would have to pass through the second one in the collision. Using Equation 6 in Equation 7 gives, v 1 xb v 1 xa v 1 xa = v 1 xb 2 v 1 xa = ( 1 ) v 1 xb 1 0. 3 1 v 1 xb = 4 m/ s = 1 . 4 m/s v 1 xa = 2 2 v 2 xa = v 1 xb v 1 xa = 2. 6 m/ s 11

Problem 20. A bullet of mass 0. 01 kg has a speed of 500 m/ s when it collides with an initially stationary block of mass 5 kg. The block is at the end of a rope of length 1 m. ( This is the ballistic pendulum setup from Chapter 8) . What is the maximum angle the rope makes with the vertical after the collision if A) the bullet embeds itself in the block? B) the bullet has an elastic collision with the block? Solution : A) This is the situation treated in the text. There I show that the nal height reached by the block is, H= The angle is cos = m m+ M
2

v i2 = 2 gE

0. 01 5. 01

500 2 m = 0. 051 m 2 9. 8

L H = cos 1 ( 0. 949 ) = 1 8. 38 L

B) The velocity of the block after the elastic collision would be 2 m 1 v 1 xb 2 ( 0. 01 ) 500 = m/ s = 1 . 996 m/ s 5. 01 m1 + m2 After the collision the energy of the block is conserved as it swings up. So, 1 2 m2 v2 xa = m 2 gE H 2 2 1 . 996 2 v m = 0. 203 m H = 2 xa = 2 9. 8 2 gE L H = cos 1 = cos 1 ( 0. 797 ) = 37. 2 L v 2 xa = Problem 2 1 . A cart of mass 50 kg is rolling along with a constant speed of 1 0 m/ s when a 5 kg sand bag is dropped vertically onto the cart. ( I mean that the sand bag has no horizontal component of velocity when it impacts the cart) . What is the speed of the cart after the sand bag lands on the cart? Solution : Let the x-direction be the direction of the motion of the cart. The x-component of the cart/ bag system should be unchanged as the bag hits the cart: m b ag v b ag , xb + m c a rt v c a rt , xb = m ba g + m c art ) V V= m c art 50 v c art , xb = ( 1 0 m/ s ) = 9. 09 m/ s m c a rt + m b ag 55

Problem 2 2 . A proton of mass m p with initial velocity v 0 collides with a helium atom of mass 4 m p. The helium atom is initially at rest. If the proton leaves the point of impact at an angle of 45 with the original line of motion, nd the nal velocities of each particle. Assume that the collision is perfectly elastic. Solution : Let the positive x-direction be along the initial direction of the proton s motion. Then: C onservation of Momentum Along the x-Direction m p v 0 = m p v pa cos ( 45 ) + m H e Vx v 0 = v p a / 2 + 4 Vx C onservation of Momentum Along the y-Direction 0 = v p a / 2 + 4 Vy C onservation of Kinetic Energy
2 2 2 2 v0 = vp a+4 V x + Vy

( 8)

( 9)

( 1 0)

12

I ll let Maxima solve these equations. ( %i 1 ) e q1 : v0=vpa/ s qrt( 2) +4* Vx; vpa ( %o1 ) v0 = 4 Vx + 2 ( %i 2) e q2: 0=vpa/s qrt( 2) +4* Vy; vpa ( %o2) 0 = 4 Vy + 2 ( %i 3) e q3: v0^ 2=vpa^ 2+4* ( Vx^ 2+Vy^ 2) ; ( %o3) v0 2 = 4 Vy 2 + Vx2 + vpa 2 ( %i 4) f loat( s ol ve ( [ eq1 , e q2, e q3] , [ vpa, Vx, Vy] ) ) ; ( %o5) [ [ vpa = . 9288221 436384907 v0 , Vx = . 0858058909292495 v0 , Vy = . 1 641 941 090707505 v0] , [ vpa = . 645979431 1 63871 7 v0 , Vx = . 3641 941 090707506 v0 , Vy = . 1 1 41 941 090707505 v0] ] Either solution is possible. The speed of the second particle is of course V = Vx2 + Vy2 .

13