During an elastic collision between 2 objects, one of which is stationary, will the stationary object move with the momentum of the object that collided with it (after collision), leaving the originally moving object stationary?
Update:Edit: Im wondering if this will work with a head on collision when the masses arent identical too! That is, if momentum is virtually switched
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Verified answer
It will if:
*) The collision is head-on (not off-center)
*) The objects have identical masses
let u = initial velocity, v = final velocity
principle of conservation of energy:
momentum before collision = momentum after collision
m1u1 + m2u2 = m1v1 + m2v2
when their mass is identical, m1=m2=m
u1 + u2 = v1 + v2
u1 = 0 because it is stationary
u2 = v1 + v2 (v2 = 0)
u2 = v1
first object stationary, second object with velocity v collide with it, second object stop, first object moves with velocity v but opposite in direction.
So, the answer is YES. the stationary object move with the momentum of the object that collided with it (after collision), leaving the originally moving object stationary..
***if only their mass is same
if their mass is different, two object will either move together after collision or move apart. (situation: first object is stationary before collision)