Sphere A has mass m and is moving with velocity v.It makes a head-on elastic collision with a stationary sphere B of mass 2m.After the collision their speeds (v_A, v_B)are: A)0, v/2 B)-v/3, 2v/3 C)-v, v D)-2v/3, v/3 E)none of these

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In an elastic collision, both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved. For a head-on collision between two spheres where one is initially stationary, the final velocities can be determined using the conservation laws. The correct answer is derived from the formula for final velocities in an elastic collision between two masses, where the final velocity of the first mass (v1') is given by v1' = [(m1 - m2)/(m1 + m2)]v1, and the final velocity of the second mass (v2') is given by v2' = [(2m1)/(m1 + m2)]v1. Substituting m1 = m and m2 = 2m, we find v1' = -v/3 and v2' = 2v/3.

Sphere a Has Mass M and Is Moving with Velocity