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Objects' directions after colliding?
When an object with initial momentum to the right collides with a stationary object (zero momentum), shouldn't the stationary object start moving to the right after the collision while the other object comes to rest? But then how do you explain why a golf club continues to move even after colliding with a stationary golf club?
Can someone just explain to me how the direction of objects are determined after they collide? Please also explain the golf collision question. Thanks!
1 Answer
- kuiperbelt2003Lv 79 years agoFavorite Answer
all collisions conserve momentum, this means that the amount of momentum before collision will equal the amount of collision after impact
there is a specific set of conditions that will yield the scenario you describe...if the two objects are of the same mass and there is no loss of energy in the collision, then the first object transfers all its energy to the second object which moves forward with the same velocity the impacting object had
however, in all other collisions, the impacting object will continue to move; its direction and speed of motion will depend on the relative masses and total momentum of the system before collision
