Photo AI

A small uniform sphere A, of mass 2m, is moving with speed u on a smooth horizontal surface when it collides directly with a small uniform sphere B, of mass m, which is at rest - CIE - A-Level Further Maths - Question 2 - 2015 - Paper 1

Question icon

Question 2

A-small-uniform-sphere-A,-of-mass-2m,-is-moving-with-speed-u-on-a-smooth-horizontal-surface-when-it-collides-directly-with-a-small-uniform-sphere-B,-of-mass-m,-which-is-at-rest-CIE-A-Level Further Maths-Question 2-2015-Paper 1.png

A small uniform sphere A, of mass 2m, is moving with speed u on a smooth horizontal surface when it collides directly with a small uniform sphere B, of mass m, which... show full transcript

Worked Solution & Example Answer:A small uniform sphere A, of mass 2m, is moving with speed u on a smooth horizontal surface when it collides directly with a small uniform sphere B, of mass m, which is at rest - CIE - A-Level Further Maths - Question 2 - 2015 - Paper 1

Step 1

Find expressions for the speeds of A and B immediately after the collision.

96%

114 rated

Answer

To find the speeds of A and B after the collision, we apply the conservation of momentum. Before the collision, the total momentum is:

pinitial=2mup_{initial} = 2mu

After the collision, let the speed of A be vAv_A and the speed of B be vBv_B. Using conservation of momentum:

2mu=2mvA+mvB2mu = 2mv_A + mv_B

This simplifies to:

vA+12vB=uag1v_A + \frac{1}{2}v_B = u ag{1}

Next, we use the coefficient of restitution e, which is defined as:

e=vB−vAue = \frac{v_B - v_A}{u}

From this, we can express vBv_B in terms of vAv_A:

vB=vA+euv_B = v_A + eu

Substituting vBv_B in equation (1):

vA+12(vA+eu)=uv_A + \frac{1}{2}(v_A + eu) = u

Simplifying this gives:

32vA+12eu=u\frac{3}{2}v_A + \frac{1}{2}eu = u

Solving for vAv_A yields:

vA=2(1−e)3uv_A = \frac{2(1-e)}{3}u

And substituting back to find vBv_B:

vB=23u+euv_B = \frac{2}{3}u + eu

Thus, the expressions are:

vA=2(1−e)3u,vB=2(1+e)3uv_A = \frac{2(1-e)}{3}u, \quad v_B = \frac{2(1+e)}{3}u

Step 2

Find e.

99%

104 rated

Answer

After B has collided with the wall, the coefficient of restitution between B and the wall is given as 0.4. Since the speeds of A and B are equal after this collision, we denote this common speed as vv:

Setting vA=vB=vv_A = v_B = v, we use the coefficient of restitution to relate to the speed of B after colliding with the wall:

v=−0.4vBv = -0.4v_B

Since vB=2(1+e)3uv_B = \frac{2(1+e)}{3}u prior to hitting the wall, we have:

v=−0.4(2(1+e)3u)v = -0.4 \left( \frac{2(1+e)}{3}u \right)

Setting these equal gives:

2(1−e)3u=−0.4(2(1+e)3u)\frac{2(1-e)}{3}u = -0.4 \left( \frac{2(1+e)}{3}u \right)

Cancelling common terms and simplifying leads to:

1−e=−0.4(1+e)⇒1−e=−0.4−0.4e1-e = -0.4(1+e) \Rightarrow 1-e = -0.4 - 0.4e

Solving for e:

1+0.4=e+0.4e⇒e(1+0.4)=1.4⇒e=1.41.4=0.7141 + 0.4 = e + 0.4e\Rightarrow e(1 + 0.4) = 1.4 \Rightarrow e = \frac{1.4}{1.4} = 0.714

Step 3

Find the distance of B from the wall when it next collides with A.

96%

101 rated

Answer

Let the distance from B to the wall be denoted as dd. After colliding with the wall, the speed of B is:

vB′=−0.4vBv_B' = -0.4v_B

Using the expression for speed before the wall collision:

vB=2(1+0.714)3u=5.4283uv_B = \frac{2(1+0.714)}{3}u = \frac{5.428}{3}u

Thus, after the collision:

vB′=−0.4⋅5.4283u=−0.572uv_B' = -0.4 \cdot \frac{5.428}{3}u = -0.572u

Now, to find the distance xx traveled by B before colliding with A again, we set:

x=d−vB′tx = d - v_B' t

Assuming uniform motion, substituting the equation will yield:

Using the relationship:

ightarrow d = x + 0.3$$ Thus, the distance of B from the wall when it next collides with A: $$x = d - 0.3$$

Join the A-Level students using SimpleStudy...

97% of Students

Report Improved Results

98% of Students

Recommend to friends

100,000+

Students Supported

1 Million+

Questions answered

Other A-Level Further Maths topics to explore

;