Elastic Collisions in One Dimension Flashcards
1
Q
Direct impact
A
A collision between particles which are moving along the same straight line
2
Q
When does Newton’s law of restitution hold
A
When the collision takes place in free space or on a smooth surface
3
Q
Newton’s law of restitution
A
e = speed of separation after collision / speed of approach before collision
4
Q
e range
A
0 <= e <= 1
5
Q
e = 1
A
A perfectly elastic collision, the speed of separation is the same as the speed of approach in opposite directions
6
Q
e = 0
A
A totally inelastic collision, the particles coalesce
7
Q
Method with two unknown velocities
A
Combine the principle of conservation of linear momentum with Newton’s law of restitution
8
Q
Collisions with a smooth plane
A
The plane does not move, thus e = v/u
9
Q
Velocities when the string is taut
A
Will be equal
