Physics - Center of Mass Question with Solution | TestHub

Particle 1 of mass $m_1$ is initially moving in the positive $x$-direction (to the right in the figure) with a speed $v_{1.0}$ and collides with a second particle 2 of mass $m_2=m_1/3$, which is initially moving in the opposite direction (to the left in the figure) with an unknown speed ${\mathrm{v}}_{2.0}$ Assume that the total external force acting on the particles is zero. You do not know whether or not the collision is elastic. After the collision particle 1 moves with a speed ${\mathrm{v}}_{1.\mathrm{f}}={\mathrm{v}}_{1.0}/2$ downward, at an angle ${\theta }_{1.\mathrm{f}}=90^0$ with respect to the positive x direction (see figure). After the collision, particle 2 moves with an unknown speed ${\mathrm{V}}_{2.\mathrm{f}}$ at an angle ${\theta }_{2.\mathrm{f}}=45^0$ upward with respect to the positive x -direction (see figure).