The momentum does not change but the balls are together during the collision so
initial ke = (1/2) m V1^2 = total energy
initial momentum = m V1
final momentum = (n+1)m V2
so
V2 = V1/(n+1)
so ke during collision
= (1/2) (n+1)m V2^2
= (1/2) (n+1)m V1^2/(n+1)^2
= (1/2)m V1^2/(n+1)
the total energy is constant if elastic so
(1/2)m V1^2 = (1/2)mV1^2/(n+1) + pe
pe = (1/2)mV1^2 [1-1/(n+1]
= (1/2)m V1^2 [n/(n+1)]
= initial Ke [ n/(n+1)]
if n is huge, it all gets stored because the balls stop.
if n is tiny, it goes to zero because the original ball keeps going at just about the same speed.
Science physics
A ball A moving with kinetic energy E makes a head on elastic collision with a stationary ball with mass n times that as A . What is the potential enery stored during collision ?
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.... and if you have a physics question type PHYSICS, not Blue bells....,
2 answers