Two gliders are on a frictionless, level air track. Initially, glider A moves to

Question

Two gliders are on a frictionless, level air track. Initially, glider A moves to the right and glider B is at rest. After the collision, glider A has reversed direction and moves to the left. System C consists of both gliders A and B. The mass of glider A is ¼ the mass of glider B. Assume that the right is the positive direction

1. Specify whether the change in momentum for the following systems is positive, negative, or zero.

System A, System B, System C

Explain how you determined the answers to the previous question.

2. Is the magnitude of the change in momentum vector for glider A greater than, less than, or equal to the magnitude of the change in momentum vector for glider B? Explain.

3. Is the magnitude of the change in velocity vector for glider A greater than, less than, or equal to the magnitude of the change in velocity vector for glider B? Explain.

4. Consider the following incorrect statement: “Glider B will move to the right after this collision, but it would move faster if glider A were to come to a stop, giving glider B all its momentum.” Describe what is wrong about this statement and explain how you can tell.

Explanation / Answer

1) change in momentum for system A is negative as A start moving in left direction after collision

change in momentum for system B will be positive as B start moving in right direction after collision

system C ...change in momentum will be zero because momentum is a conserved quantity so momentum before collision will be equal to momentum after collision.

2) since there are not external forces and momentum is conserved so change in momentum for both will be equal.

Moreover both blocks get same impulse , therefore both A and B experience same change in momentum but in opposite direction.

3) AS the mass of block A is less than B ,so block A will have greater change in velocity and momentum is conserved .Mass and velocity are directly proportional to momentum

4) momentum is always a conserved quantity . So it is wrong term to say that A will transfer all its momentum to B as momentum can't be transferred. Moreover , there is no friction so A won't stop and mass of A is also less. The change in momentum of A is greater which will be equal to change in momentum of B but in opposite direction,

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