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Solution for (a)

Momentum is conserved because the net external force on the puck-goalie system is zero.

Conservation of momentum is

p 1 + p 2 = p 1 + p 2 size 12{p rSub { size 8{1} } +p rSub { size 8{2} } = { {p}} sup { ' } rSub { size 8{1} } + { {p}} sup { ' } rSub { size 8{2} } } {}

or

m 1 v 1 + m 2 v 2 = m 1 v 1 + m 2 v 2 . size 12{m rSub { size 8{1} } v rSub { size 8{1} } +m rSub { size 8{2} } v rSub { size 8{2} } =m rSub { size 8{1} } { {v}} sup { ' } rSub { size 8{1} } +m rSub { size 8{2} } { {v}} sup { ' } rSub { size 8{2} } } {}

Because the goalie is initially at rest, we know v 2 = 0 size 12{v rSub { size 8{2} } =0} {} . Because the goalie catches the puck, the final velocities are equal, or v 1 = v 2 = v size 12{ { {v}} sup { ' } rSub { size 8{1} } = { {v}} sup { ' } rSub { size 8{2} } =v'} {} . Thus, the conservation of momentum equation simplifies to

m 1 v 1 = m 1 + m 2 v . size 12{m rSub { size 8{1} } v rSub { size 8{1} } = left (m rSub { size 8{1} } +m rSub { size 8{2} } right )v'} {}

Solving for v size 12{v'} {} yields

v = m 1 m 1 + m 2 v 1 . size 12{v'= { {m rSub { size 8{1} } } over {m rSub { size 8{1} } +m rSub { size 8{2} } } } v rSub { size 8{1} } } {}

Entering known values in this equation, we get

v = 0.150 kg 70.0 kg + 0.150 kg 35 .0 m/s = 7 . 48 × 10 2 m/s . size 12{v'= left ( { {0 "." "150"`"kg"} over {"70" "." 0`"kg"+0 "." "150"`"kg"} } right ) left ("35" "." 0`"m/s" right )=7 "." "48" times "10" rSup { size 8{ - 2} } `"m/s" "." } {}

Discussion for (a)

This recoil velocity is small and in the same direction as the puck’s original velocity, as we might expect.

Solution for (b)

Before the collision, the internal kinetic energy KE int size 12{"KE" rSub { size 8{"int"} } } {} of the system is that of the hockey puck, because the goalie is initially at rest. Therefore, KE int size 12{"KE" rSub { size 8{"int"} } } {} is initially

KE int = 1 2 mv 2 = 1 2 0 . 150 kg 35 .0 m/s 2 = 91 . 9 J .

After the collision, the internal kinetic energy is

KE int = 1 2 m + M v 2 = 1 2 70 . 15 kg 7 . 48 × 10 2 m/s 2 = 0.196 J.

The change in internal kinetic energy is thus

KE int KE int = 0.196 J 91.9 J = 91.7 J

where the minus sign indicates that the energy was lost.

Discussion for (b)

Nearly all of the initial internal kinetic energy is lost in this perfectly inelastic collision. KE int size 12{"KE" rSub { size 8{"int"} } } {} is mostly converted to thermal energy and sound.

During some collisions, the objects do not stick together and less of the internal kinetic energy is removed—such as happens in most automobile accidents. Alternatively, stored energy may be converted into internal kinetic energy during a collision. [link] shows a one-dimensional example in which two carts on an air track collide, releasing potential energy from a compressed spring. [link] deals with data from such a collision.

An uncoiled spring is connected to a glider with triangular cross sectional area of mass m 1 which moves with velocity v 1 toward the right. Another solid glider of mass m 2 and triangular cross sectional area moves toward the left with velocity V 2 on a frictionless surface. The total momentum is the sum of their individual momentum p 1 and p 2. After collision m 1 moves to the left with velocity V 1 prime and momentum p 1prime. M 2 moves to the right with velocity V 2 prime. Their individual momentum becomes p 1prime and p 2 prime but the total momentum remains the same. The internal kinetic energy after collision is greater than the kinetic energy before collision.
An air track is nearly frictionless, so that momentum is conserved. Motion is one-dimensional. In this collision, examined in [link] , the potential energy of a compressed spring is released during the collision and is converted to internal kinetic energy.

Collisions are particularly important in sports and the sporting and leisure industry utilizes elastic and inelastic collisions. Let us look briefly at tennis. Recall that in a collision, it is momentum and not force that is important. So, a heavier tennis racquet will have the advantage over a lighter one. This conclusion also holds true for other sports—a lightweight bat (such as a softball bat) cannot hit a hardball very far.

The location of the impact of the tennis ball on the racquet is also important, as is the part of the stroke during which the impact occurs. A smooth motion results in the maximizing of the velocity of the ball after impact and reduces sports injuries such as tennis elbow. A tennis player tries to hit the ball on the “sweet spot” on the racquet, where the vibration and impact are minimized and the ball is able to be given more velocity. Sports science and technologies also use physics concepts such as momentum and rotational motion and vibrations.

Calculating final velocity and energy release: two carts collide

In the collision pictured in [link] , two carts collide inelastically. Cart 1 (denoted m 1 size 12{m rSub { size 8{1} } } {} carries a spring which is initially compressed. During the collision, the spring releases its potential energy and converts it to internal kinetic energy. The mass of cart 1 and the spring is 0.350 kg, and the cart and the spring together have an initial velocity of 2 . 00 m/s size 12{2 "." "00"`"m/s"} {} . Cart 2 (denoted m 2 size 12{m rSub { size 8{2} } } {} in [link] ) has a mass of 0.500 kg and an initial velocity of 0 . 500 m/s size 12{ - 0 "." "500"`"m/s"} {} . After the collision, cart 1 is observed to recoil with a velocity of 4 . 00 m/s size 12{ - 4 "." "00"`"m/s"} {} . (a) What is the final velocity of cart 2? (b) How much energy was released by the spring (assuming all of it was converted into internal kinetic energy)?

Strategy

We can use conservation of momentum to find the final velocity of cart 2, because F net = 0 size 12{F rSub { size 8{"net"} } =0} {} (the track is frictionless and the force of the spring is internal). Once this velocity is determined, we can compare the internal kinetic energy before and after the collision to see how much energy was released by the spring.

Solution for (a)

As before, the equation for conservation of momentum in a two-object system is

m 1 v 1 + m 2 v 2 = m 1 v 1 + m 2 v 2 .

The only unknown in this equation is v 2 . Solving for v 2 and substituting known values into the previous equation yields

v 2 = m 1 v 1 + m 2 v 2 m 1 v 1 m 2 = 0.350 kg 2.00 m/s + 0.500 kg 0.500 m/s 0.500 kg 0.350 kg 4.00 m/s 0.500 kg = 3.70 m/s.

Solution for (b)

The internal kinetic energy before the collision is

KE int = 1 2 m 1 v 1 2 + 1 2 m 2 v 2 2 = 1 2 0 . 350 kg 2.00 m/s 2 + 1 2 0 . 500 kg 0 . 500 m/s 2 = 0 . 763 J .

After the collision, the internal kinetic energy is

KE int = 1 2 m 1 v 1 2 + 1 2 m 2 v 2 2 = 1 2 0.350 kg - 4.00 m/s 2 + 1 2 0.500 kg 3.70 m/s 2 = 6.22 J.

The change in internal kinetic energy is thus

KE int KE int = 6.22 J 0 . 763 J = 5.46 J.

Discussion

The final velocity of cart 2 is large and positive, meaning that it is moving to the right after the collision. The internal kinetic energy in this collision increases by 5.46 J. That energy was released by the spring.

Practice Key Terms 2

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Source:  OpenStax, Unit 6 - momentum. OpenStax CNX. Jan 22, 2016 Download for free at https://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11961/1.1
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