A billiard ball collides with a stationary identical billiard ball in an elastic head-on collision. After the collision, which is true of the first ball?

Question

a
It moves in the opposite direction.
b
It maintains its initial velocity.
c
It comes to rest.
d
It has one-half its initial velocity.

Answer 1

In an elastic head-on collision between two identical billiard balls where one ball is initially stationary, the following results occur:

1. The moving ball transfers its momentum to the stationary ball.
2. After the collision, the initially moving ball will come to rest.

Therefore, the correct answer is:

c. It comes to rest.