Two
objects with masses m1 and m2 and initial
velocities v1 and v2 (because this example is a
1-dimensional problem, we have again omitted the vector arrows)
collide elastically. What are their final velocities, v3
(for object 1) and v4 (for object 2)?
Answer:
The total momentum is always conserved in collisions. And because this collision is elastic, by definition total kinetic energy is also conserved. This means we have two equations with two unknowns, leading to:
These
equations are the general solution for all one-dimensional
elastic collision problems.