Conceptual Momentum Question

[qw098]

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Hi,

I am having trouble with this conceptual Momentum question. It is a question on EK 1001 Physics. The answer is c) but I am unsure why. The diagram below is the question:

I would greatly appreciate your guys' help on this question. Thanks!

 

[Dasypus]

http://www.batesville.k12.in.us/physics/apphynet/Dynamics/Collisions/elastic_deriv.htm Go all the way to the bottom.

 

[qw098]

Is the Physics MCAT THAT hard?

 

[Dasypus]

Is the Physics MCAT THAT hard?

No. But understanding why that's the result isn't really for 'conceptual', it's for 'oh bloody hell math'.

 

[sotto voce]

Thanks for that link.

Using the equation on the right, the denominator will be essentially just m1, because we're greatly increasing the size of m1 and therefore m2 becomes relatively small and insignificant. You're left with 2*m1 / m1, which equals 2. So the answer is 2*v.

 

[qw098]

Try figuring that out in less than one minute when you are super stressed 🙁

 

[mcatcram]

Just think about the most extreme scenarios and what can happen.