A physics problem?

Two objects with masses of 1kg and 2kg collide frontally and stop. What is the ratio of their of their kinetic energies before colliding?

Comments

  • Con of momentum:

    Initial momentum = final momentum

    M1*v1i + m2*v2i = 0

    V1i = -m2/m1*v2i

    I'll set m1 = 1 kg, m2 = 2 kg

    V1i = -2*v2i

    Ratio = KE1i/KE2i

    Ratio = (1/2*m1*v1i^2)/(1/2*m2*v2i^2)

    With m1 and m2 subbed in

    Ratio = 1/2*v1i^2/v2i^2

    Sub in v1i = -2*v2i

    Ratio = 1/2*(-2*v2i)^2/v2i^2

    Ratio = 2

    So KE1i = 2*KE2i

    That's what I got.

    Hope the explanation helped

  • if they both stop dead, their kinetic energies were equal. this implies that their relative velocities were in the inverse proportion to their masses

  • im a freshman

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