Physics-PHY101-Lecture 10

COLLISIONS
Collisions are extremely important to understand because they happen all the time - electrons
collide with atoms, a bat with a ball, cars with trucks, star galaxies with other galaxies. In every
case, the sum of the initial momenta equals the sum of the final momenta. This follows directly
from Newton's Second Law, as we have already seen.

Elastic collision in one dimension:

Let us take the simplest collision. Consider two bodies of mass m1 and m2 moving with velocities
u1 and u2. After the collision they are moving with velocities v1 and v2 as shown in figure 10.1. For
elastic collision, the total linear momentum, and kinetic energies of the two bodies before and after
collision must remain the same.

Figure 10.1. Illustrating one-dimensional elastic collision dynamics, where masses m1 and m2 exchange
velocities u1, u2 to v1, and v2 after collision while preserving total linear momentum and kinetic energies.

From the law of conservation of linear momentum,

Total momentum before collision (pi) = Total momentum after collision (pf)
m1u1 + m2u2 = m1v1 + m2 v 2
m1 (u1 − v1 ) = m2 (v 2 − u2 ) → 1
For elastic collision,
Total kinetic energy before collision ( K.E i ) = Total kinetic energy after collision ( K.E f )
1
2 m1u12 + 1 2 m2u2 2 = 1
2 m1v12 + 1 2 m2v2 2
1
2 m1 (u12 − v12 ) = 1 2 m2 (v 2 2 − u2 2 )
m1 (u12 − v12 ) = m2 (v 2 2 − u2 2 ) → 2
Using the formula, a 2 − b 2 = ( a + b )( a − b ) , we can rewrite the above equation as
m1 ( u1 + v1 )( u1 − v1 ) = m2 ( v 2 + u2 )( v 2 − u2 ) → 3
Dividing equation ( 3) by (1) gives,
m1 ( u1 + v1 )( u1 − v1 ) m2 ( v 2 + u2 )( v 2 − u2 )
=
m1 (u1 − v1 ) m2 (v 2 − u2 )
u1 + v1 = v 2 + u2
u1 − u2 = v 2 − v1
u1 − u2 = − ( v1 − v 2 ) → 4

This means that for any elastic head on collision, the relative speed of the two elastic bodies after
the collision has the same magnitude as before collision but in opposite direction. Further note that
this result is independent of mass.

Rewriting the equation 4 for v1 andv 2 ,

v1 = v2 + u2 − u1 → 5
v2 = u1 + v1 − u2 → 6

To find the final velocities v1 and v2:

Substituting equation (5) in equation (1) gives the velocity of m1 as,

m1 (u1 − v1 ) = m2 (v 2 − u2 )
m1 (u1 − v1 ) = m2 ( u1 + v1 − 2u2 )
m1u1 − m1v1 ) = m2u1 + m2 v1 − 2m2u2
( m1 − m2 ) u1 + 2m2u2 = ( m1 + m2 ) v1
( m − m2 ) u + 2m2 u → 7
v1 = 1
( m1 + m2 ) 1 ( m1 + m2 ) 2
Similarly, by substituting equation (7) in equation (6), we get the final velocity of m2 as,

v 2 = u1 +
( m1 − m2 ) u + 2m2 u − u
( m1 + m2 ) 1 ( m1 + m2 ) 2 2
2m1 (m − m1 )
v2 = u1 + 2 u →8
( m1 + m2 ) ( m1 + m2 ) 2

These equations holds true in all inertial frames.

Case-I:

When bodies have same mass i.e., m1 = m2,

m1 − m 2 2m 2
v1 = ( )u1 + ( )u2
m1 + m 2 m1 + m 2
2m 2
v1 = (0)u1 + u2
2m 2
v1 = u2
2m1 m 2 − m1
v2 = ( )u1 + ( )u2
m1 + m 2 m1 + m 2
2m
v 2 = 1 u1 + (0)u2
2m1
v 2 = u1

The equations show that in one dimensional elastic collision, when two bodies of equal mass
collide after the collision their velocities are exchanged.

Case-II:

When bodies have the same mass i.e., m1 = m2 and second body (usually called target) is at rest
(u2 = 0), By substituting m1 = m2 and u2 = 0 in equations we get,

v1 = 0
v2 = u1

Equations show that when the first body comes to rest the second body moves with the initial
velocity of the first body.
Case-III:

m1 m2 and u2 = 0
m1 − m 2 2m 2
v1 = ( )u1 + ( )u2
m1 + m 2 m1 + m 2
v1 = −u1
2m1 m 2 − m1
v2 = ( )u1 + ( )u2
m1 + m 2 m1 + m 2
v2 = 0

The equations implies that the first body which is lighter, returns back in the opposite direction
with the same initial velocity as it has a negative sign. The second body which is heavier in mass
continues to remain at rest even after collision.

For example, if a ball is thrown at a fixed wall, the ball will bounce back from the wall with the
same velocity with which it was thrown but in opposite direction.

Case-IV:

m2  m1 u2 = 0
m1 − m 2 2m 2
v1 = ( )u1 + ( )u2
m1 + m 2 m1 + m 2
v1 = u1
2m1 m 2 − m1
v2 = ( )u1 + ( )u2
m1 + m 2 m1 + m 2
v 2 = 2u1

The equations implies that the first body which is heavier continues to move with the same initial
velocity. The second body, which is lighter, will move with twice the initial velocity of the first
body. It means that the lighter body is thrown away from the point of collision.

Elastic and inelastic collision:

Elastic Collision Inelastic Collision

 The total kinetic energy is conserved The total kinetic energy of the bodies at
the beginning and the end of the
collision is different.
Momentum is conserved Momentum is conserved
No conversion of energy takes place Kinetic energy is changed into other
energy such as sound or heat energy.
Highly unlikely in the real world as there is This is the normal form of collision in
almost always a change in energy. the real world.
An example of this can be swinging balls or An example of an inelastic collision can
a spacecraft flying near a planet but not be the collision of two cars.
getting affected by its gravity in the end.
Sometimes we wish to slow down particles by making them collide with other particles. In a
nuclear reactor, neutrons can be slowed down in this way.

A completely inelastic collision:

A collision that is completely inelastic in physics is one in which the two colliding objects
stick together to form a single mass as shown in figure 10.2. The total momentum is conserved in
such collisions but kinetic energy is not conserved; instead, part or all of it is converted into
deformation energy or internal kinetic energy.

Figure 10.2. Illustrating one-dimensional in-elastic collision dynamics, where two masses moves with the
same velocity V, conserving only the total linear momentum but the kinetic energies are not conserved.
Mathematically,

Initial momentum = Final momentum = 0

1
Initial kinetic energy = 2 mv 2 ( for two massess )
2
Final kinetic energy = 0 ( as V = 0 )

A common example of a totally inelastic collision is the result of two balls colliding and sticking
to one another. After the collision, the combined mass that results travels at the same speed.

Problem 1: By what fraction is the kinetic energy of a neutron (mass m1) decreased in a head-
on collision with an atomic nucleus (mass m2) initially at rest?

Solution:

m1 m2 , v 2i = 0
m1 − m 2 2m 2
v1f = ( )u1i + ( )u2i
m1 + m 2 m1 + m 2
m1 − m 2 v m1 − m 2
v1f = ( )u1i  f = ( )
m1 + m 2 ui m1 + m 2
2
 vf   m1 − m 2 
2

  = 
 ui   m1 + m 2 
Fractional decrease in neutron K.E :
Ki − Kf Kf vf 2
= 1− = 1− 2
Ki Ki vi
Ki − Kf  m1 − m 2 
2

= 1−  
Ki  m1 + m 2 
Ki − Kf ( m1 + m 2 ) − ( m1 − m 2 )
2 2

=
( m1 + m2 )
2
Ki
Ki − Kf 4m1m2
=
Ki (m1 + m2 ) 2
Problem 2: A bullet with mass m is fired into a block of wood with mass M, suspended like a
pendulum and makes a completely inelastic collision with it. After the impact, the block swings
up to a maximum height y. What is the initial speed of the bullet?

Solution:

mv + 0 = (m + M )V
mv = (m + M )V
(m + M )
v= V →1
m
Conservation of energy gives,
1
(m + M )V 2 = (m + M ) gy
2
(m + M )V 2
y=
2(m + M ) g
V2
y=
2g
V = 2 gy → 2
On putting equation (2) in equation (1),
(m + M )
v= 2 gy
m

Conclusion: Equation shows the direct relation between the initial speed of bullet and the
wooden block’s height ‘y’. The wooden block gains height as much as speedily the bullet enters
the wooden block.
Problem 3: A car ‘A’ of mass 1000 kg is traveling north at 15 m/s collides with another car B
of mass 2000 kg traveling east at 10 m/s. After a collision they move as one mass. Find the total
momentum just after the collision.

Solution:

Px = p Ax + pBx = m A v Ax + m B v Bx
Px = 0 + 2000 10 = 20, 000 kg m / s
Py = p Ay + pBy = m A v Ay + m B v By
Py = 1000 15 + 0 = 15000 kg m / s
P = Px 2 + Py 2 = 20, 0002 + 15, 0002 = 25000 kg m / s
Py 15, 000
tan  = = = 0.75   = 37 0
Px 20, 000

Problem 4:

Consider two masses m1 moving with velocity u1 and m2 at rest (u2=0) as shown in figure. This is
not a central collision (i.e., m1 directly collide to m2), instead m1 slightly touches m2 by one of its
sides. Apply the law of conservation of momentum to this case.

Solution:
 1) pix = pfx
 m1u1 = m1v1 cos 1 + m 2 v 2 cos 2
2) piy = pfy
 0 = m1v1 sin 1 - m 2 v 2 sin 2
3) KEi = KEf
 1 2 m1u12 = 1 2 m1v12 + 1 2 m 2 v 2 2

As there are 4-unknowns and 3-equations, they cannot be solved.

Problem 5: Consider two masses m1 moving with velocity v1 and m2 moving with velocity v2.
Both masses collied with each other. After collision, they become a one body with mass M moving
with velocity vf. Apply the law of conservation of momentum to this case.

Solution:
 1) pix = pfx
 m1v1 + m 2 v 2 cos 2
= (m1 + m2 )V f cos  f
2) piy = pfy
 m 2 v 2 sin 2 = MV f sin  f

Now there are 2-unknowns and 2-

equations, hence, can be solved.

Conclusion:

• Momentum is always
conserved in collisions, but
energy may or may not be.
• We have come to trust momentum conservation very much: discovery of the neutrino, hints
of black holes, discovery of dark matter.