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Ch 08: Momentum, Impulse, and Collisions
Young & Freedman Calc - University Physics 15th Edition
Young & Freedman Calc15th EditionUniversity PhysicsISBN: 9780135159552Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksYoung & Freedman Calc 15th EditionCh 08: Momentum, Impulse, and CollisionsProblem 40b
Chapter 8, Problem 40b

To protect their young in the nest, peregrine falcons will fly into birds of prey (such as ravens) at high speed. In one such episode, a 600-g falcon flying at 20.0 m/s hit a 1.50-kg raven flying at 9.0 m/s. The falcon hit the raven at right angles to its original path and bounced back at 5.0 m/s. (These figures were estimated by the author as he watched this attack occur in northern New Mexico.) What was the raven's speed right after the collision?

Verified step by step guidance
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Step 1: Identify the type of collision. This is an inelastic collision in two dimensions, as the falcon and raven interact and change their velocities. Momentum is conserved in both the x and y directions.
Step 2: Define the coordinate system. Let the falcon's initial motion be along the x-axis and the raven's initial motion be along the y-axis. Assign positive directions to the initial velocities of both birds.
Step 3: Write the conservation of momentum equations for the x and y directions. For the x-direction: \( m_f v_{f,ix} + m_r v_{r,ix} = m_f v_{f,fx} + m_r v_{r,fx} \). For the y-direction: \( m_f v_{f,iy} + m_r v_{r,iy} = m_f v_{f,fy} + m_r v_{r,fy} \). Here, \( m_f \) and \( m_r \) are the masses of the falcon and raven, respectively, and \( v_{f,i} \), \( v_{r,i} \), \( v_{f,f} \), and \( v_{r,f} \) are their initial and final velocities in the x and y directions.
Step 4: Substitute the known values into the equations. For the x-direction: \( (0.600 \text{ kg})(20.0 \text{ m/s}) + (1.50 \text{ kg})(0 \text{ m/s}) = (0.600 \text{ kg})(-5.0 \text{ m/s}) + (1.50 \text{ kg})(v_{r,fx}) \). For the y-direction: \( (0.600 \text{ kg})(0 \text{ m/s}) + (1.50 \text{ kg})(9.0 \text{ m/s}) = (0.600 \text{ kg})(0 \text{ m/s}) + (1.50 \text{ kg})(v_{r,fy}) \).
Step 5: Solve for the components of the raven's final velocity. From the x-direction equation, isolate \( v_{r,fx} \). From the y-direction equation, isolate \( v_{r,fy} \). Then, use the Pythagorean theorem to find the magnitude of the raven's final velocity: \( v_r = \sqrt{v_{r,fx}^2 + v_{r,fy}^2} \).

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Conservation of Momentum

The conservation of momentum states that in a closed system, the total momentum before an event (like a collision) is equal to the total momentum after the event. This principle is crucial for analyzing collisions, as it allows us to calculate the velocities of objects post-collision by equating the momentum of the system before and after the interaction.
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Vector Components

In physics, motion is often analyzed using vector components, which break down a vector quantity (like velocity) into its horizontal and vertical parts. This is particularly important in collisions where objects may move in different directions, allowing for a clearer understanding of their interactions and resulting velocities in a two-dimensional space.
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Elastic vs. Inelastic Collisions

Collisions can be classified as elastic or inelastic based on whether kinetic energy is conserved. In elastic collisions, both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved, while in inelastic collisions, momentum is conserved but kinetic energy is not. Understanding this distinction helps in determining the final velocities of colliding objects, as it influences the calculations involved.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

To protect their young in the nest, peregrine falcons will fly into birds of prey (such as ravens) at high speed. In one such episode, a 600-g falcon flying at 20.0 m/s hit a 1.50-kg raven flying at 9.0 m/s. The falcon hit the raven at right angles to its original path and bounced back at 5.0 m/s. (These figures were estimated by the author as he watched this attack occur in northern New Mexico.) By what angle did the falcon change the raven's direction of motion?

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Textbook Question

A small rocket burns 0.0500 kg of fuel per second, ejecting it as a gas with a velocity relative to the rocket of magnitude 1600 m/s. What is the thrust of the rocket?

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Textbook Question

Two skaters collide and grab on to each other on frictionless ice. One of them, of mass 70.0 kg, is moving to the right at 4.00 m/s, while the other, of mass 65.0 kg, is moving to the left at 2.50 m/s. What are the magnitude and direction of the velocity of these skaters just after they collide?

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Textbook Question

Jack (mass 55.0 kg) is sliding due east with speed 8.00 m/s on the surface of a frozen pond. He collides with Jill (mass 48.0 kg), who is initially at rest. After the collision, Jack is traveling at 5.00 m/s in a direction 34.0° north of east. What is Jill's velocity (magnitude and direction) after the collision? Ignore friction.

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