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Multiple Choice
On a frictionless air hockey table, puck A of mass 0.250 kg moves to the right and collides with puck B of mass 0.38kg, which is initially at rest. After the collision, puck A is moving the left at 0.12 m/s and puck B moves to the right at 0.65 m/s. What was the initial velocity of puck A before the collision?
A
0.73 m/s
B
0.57 m/s
C
0.87 m/s
D
1.1 m/s
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Verified step by step guidance
1
Identify the type of collision: Since the table is frictionless and the pucks are moving after the collision, this is an elastic collision where both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved.
Write the equation for the conservation of momentum. The total momentum before the collision must equal the total momentum after the collision. Use the formula: + = + , where and are the initial velocities of pucks A and B, and and are the final velocities.
Substitute the known values into the momentum equation. Puck B is initially at rest, so = 0. The equation becomes: = + .
Solve the equation for , the initial velocity of puck A. Rearrange the equation to isolate on one side.
Calculate the value of using the rearranged equation. This will give you the initial velocity of puck A before the collision.