Consider an air track glider to investigate collisions between two masses. The f
ID: 1420106 • Letter: C
Question
Consider an air track glider to investigate collisions between two masses. The first air track glider has a mass of m1 = 0.207 kg and is moving at a speed of 0.709 m/s when it collides with the second glider, m2 = 0.401 kg, which was intital at rest. Afterward, the velocity of the second glider is 0.427 m/s.
a. What is the inital kinetic energy of the two gliders?
b) What is the final velocity of the first glider?
c) What is the kinetic energy of the two gliders after the collison?
d) If the second glider slows to a stop over 0.230 m due to friction, what is the magnitude of the friction force?
Explanation / Answer
a) Initial KE = 0.5*0.207*0.709^2 = 0.052 J
b) From conservatino of momentum
0.207*0.709 = 0.207*v + 0.401*0.427
v = -0.1181 m/s
c) KE of two gliders after collision, KE = 0.5*0.207*0.1181^2 + 0.5*0.401*0.427^2 = 0.038 J
d) s = 0.23 m
a = ?
u = 0.427 m/s
v = 0
2*a*s = v^2 - u^2
a = 0.3963 m/s/s
F = ma = 0.15894 N