A 5.00 kg ball (ball 1), moving to the right at a velocity of +4.00 m/s on a frictionless table, collides head-on with a stationary 7.60 kg ball (ball 2). Find the final velocities of the balls if the collision is as specified below.

(a) elastic collision
ball 1
ball 2

(b) completely inelastic collision
ball 1
ball 2

cant seem to figure out out how to get this started for each part in terms the correct formula to use, please help.

1 answer

inelastic equation: only conservation of momentum can be used, I don't think you will solve it.

elastic equation; you can use both conservation of momentum and conservation of energy, you can solve it. A little algebra is required.