Question

A 0.500 kg bead slides on a straight frictionless wire with a velocity of 1.50 cm/s to the right. The bead collides elastically with a larger 0.750 kg bead initially at rest. After the collision, the smaller bead moves to the left with a velocity of 0.70 cm/s. Find the distance the larger bead moves along the wire in the first 2.0 s following the collision.

We've never done a problem like this in class. I tried finding the velocity of the other bead and plugging it into a kinematic equation but the answer was wrong.

Answers

bobpursley
well, you do indeed find the velocity of the large bead, but, you have to then find the distance it travels in 2 seconds.

Momentum
initial=final
.5*1.5=.5(-.70)+7.50(V)

V= (.75+.35)/7.50 cm/s

distance= V*2

check my math, I did it in my head.
why does V*2 = distance?
Because he found the velocity per second so you have to multiply by two to get the answer for two seconds

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