Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics (3rd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321740904
ISBN 13: 978-0-32174-090-8

Chapter 9 - Impulse and Momentum - Exercises and Problems - Page 243: 62

Answer

$\rm0.411\; m/s$ at an angle of $47 ^\circ$ south of east.

Work Step by Step

The momentum is conserved just before and just after the collision of the two clay balls. $$p_i=p_f$$ $$m_1v_{1i}+m_2v_{2i}=(m_1+m_2)v_f\tag 1$$ where the two balls stick together after the collision. Now we need to write the initial velocities of the two clay balls in component form in which the positive $x$-direction is toward the east and the positive $y$-direction is toward the north. $$v_{i1}=(2\;\hat i+0\;\hat j)\;\rm m/s\tag 2$$ $$v_{i2}=(-1.0\cos30^\circ \;\hat i-1.0\sin30^\circ\;\hat j)\;\rm m/s\tag 3 $$ Plug (2) and (3) into (1); $$m_1(2\;\hat i+0\;\hat j)+m_2(-1.0\cos30^\circ \;\hat i-1.0\sin30^\circ\;\hat j)=(m_1+m_2)v_f $$ Plugging the known; $$20(2\;\hat i+0\;\hat j)+30(-1.0\cos30^\circ \;\hat i-1.0\sin30^\circ\;\hat j)=(20+30)v_f $$ $$40 \;\hat i - 30 \cos30^\circ \;\hat i-30\sin30^\circ\;\hat j =50v_f $$ $$14.02\;\hat i -30\sin30^\circ\;\hat j =50v_f $$ Thus, $$v_f=\dfrac{14.02\;\hat i -30\sin30^\circ\;\hat j }{50}$$ $$v_f=\left(\dfrac{14.02}{50}\right)\;\hat i -\left(\dfrac{30\sin30^\circ}{50}\right) \;\hat j\tag 4$$ So, the magnitude of the final velocity of the 50-gram ball is given by the Pythagorean theorem. $$|v_f|=\sqrt{v_{fx}^2+v_{fy}^2}$$ Plugging from (4); $$|v_f|=\sqrt{\left(\dfrac{14.02}{50}\right)^2+\left(\dfrac{-30\sin30^\circ}{50}\right)^2}$$ $$|v_f|=\color{red}{\bf 0.411}\;\rm m/s$$ And its direction is in the fourth quadrant since it has a positive $x$-direction component and a negative $y$-direction component. And it is given by $$\tan\theta=\dfrac{v_y}{v_x}$$ $$\theta=\tan^{-1}\left(\dfrac{v_y}{v_x}\right)$$ Plugging from (4); $$\theta=\tan^{-1}\left(\dfrac{\left|\dfrac{-30\sin30^\circ}{50}\right|}{\dfrac{14.02}{50}}\right)\approx\color{red}{\bf 47^\circ}\tag{South of East}$$ So the 50-g clay ball will have a speed of 0.411 m/s at an angle of 47$^\circ$ south of east.
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