Leaving Certificate Physics Practice Test

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In an elastic collision with m1=2 kg moving at 3 m/s and m2=1 kg at rest, what is the velocity of m2 after the collision?

2 m/s 4 m/s 0 m/s 6 m/s

Correct Answer:

4 m/s

Explanation:

In an elastic collision both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved. When one mass of 2 kg moving at 3 m/s collides elastically with a 1 kg mass at rest, the final velocity of the second mass can be found from the standard result for u2 = 0: v2 = (2 m1)/(m1 + m2) × u1. Plugging in gives v2 = (2×2)/(2+1) × 3 = 4 m/s. So the second mass moves in the same direction as the first at 4 m/s after the collision.

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