Head-on Collision of Equal Masses

Work in progress by mtikhonovsky3

Main Idea

A collision is a brief interaction between large forces. A head-on collision can be between two carts rolling or sliding on a track with low fricton or billiard balls, hockey pucks, or vehicles hitting each other head-on.

In terms of the two carts of equal masses example, the two carts are the system. The Momentum Principle tells us that after the collision the total final x momentum p_1xf + p_2xf must equal the initial total x momentum p_1xi. Before the collision, nonzero energy terms included the kinetic energy of cart 1, K_1i, and the internal energies of both carts. After the collision there is internal energy of both carts and kinetic energy of both carts, K_1f + K_2f.

A Mathematical Model

What are the mathematical equations that allow us to model this topic. For example [math]\displaystyle{ {\frac{d\vec{p}}{dt}}_{system} = \vec{F}_{net} }[/math] where p is the momentum of the system and F is the net force from the surroundings.

A Computational Model

How do we visualize or predict using this topic. Consider embedding some vpython code here Teach hands-on with GlowScript

Examples

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History

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See also

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