Two identical balls (1 and 2) moving with equal speed collide on a frictionless surface. Collision may or may not be elastic. Which of the following diagrams is/are a physically possible situation ?

Question

TestHub · Accepted Answer

(A): the two velocity vectors are simply swapped, so momentum and KE are both conserved -possible (elastic). (B): velocities are unchanged by the collision - no impulse acts, so no collision occurred - impossible. ( C ) : total momentum before = ( m v , − m v ) equals that after, KE unchanged, and the impulse direction matches the line of centres - possible. (D): initial total momentum is zero but final momentum is nonzero (both balls move leftward) - impossible. Answer: (A), (C)

Physics - Center of Mass Question with Solution | TestHub

Options:(select one or more)

Doubts & Discussion