In the two-dimensional elastic collision of a particle with a stationary particle that has the same mass, the trajectories of the two particles after the collision are at right angles to each other. Explain why this should be so
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Since the masses are equal, conservation of momentum can be stated in the form v1 + v2 = v, which states that the three vectors form the sides of a triangle, and conservation of energy becomes v12 + v22 = v2, which says that the sum of the squares of the two sides is equal to the square of the third. That makes it a right-angled triangle, with the two sides corresponding to the final velocities at right angles to each other.
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A student is sitting on the right side of a school bus when it makes a right turn. We know that the force of gravity acts downwards and a normal force from the seat acts upwards. If the student stays in place when the bus turns, we also know that there must be
A. no other force on the student. B. a force parallel to the seat directed forward on the student. C. a force parallel to the seat directed to the left on the student. D. a force parallel to the seat directed to the right on the student. E. a force parallel to the seat in a direction between forward and left on the student.
A boy fires a spring-loaded Ping-Pong ball gun. Briefly compare the forces and impulses on the gun and the ball. Which has more momentum? Which moves faster?
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One liter of water has a mass of
A) 1 kg. B) 1 N. C) both of these D) none of the above