How Does Elastic Collision Affect Billiard Ball Movement?

What happens when a billiard ball with a speed of 10 m/s hits another billiard ball of the same mass that is at rest in a completely elastic collision?

(a) What is the final velocity of the first ball?

(b) What is the final velocity of the second ball?

Answer:

(a) The final velocity of the first ball is 0 m/s.

(b) The final velocity of the second ball is 10 m/s in the direction of the first ball's initial velocity.

In an elastic collision between two billiard balls of equal mass, both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved. When a billiard ball with a speed of 10 m/s hits another billiard ball of the same mass that is at rest, the final velocities of the balls can be determined.

For the first ball, since it has an initial velocity of 10 m/s and the collision is completely elastic, the final velocity of the first ball will be 0 m/s. This means that the first ball comes to a complete stop after the collision.

On the other hand, for the second ball, as the collision is elastic, its final velocity will be 10 m/s in the direction of the first ball's initial velocity. This shows that the second ball acquires the initial velocity of the first ball after the collision.

Understanding the concept of elastic collision is crucial in analyzing the behavior of objects in motion and how they interact with each other. It showcases the principles of conservation of momentum and kinetic energy in action.