A body of mass 1   kg collides head on elastically with a stationary body of mass 3   kg . After…

A body of mass 1 kg collides head on elastically with a stationary body of mass 3 kg. After collision, the smaller body reverses its direction of motion and moves with a speed of 2 m s-1. The initial speed of the smaller body before collision is ______ m s-1.

Solution

Let u1 be the initial speed of the smaller body before collision. 

Let v be the final speed of the bigger body after collision.

Applying conservation of linear momentum,

1×u1+0=-2+3vu1=-2+3v    ...1 

We know, coefficient of restitution for elastic perfectly collision is 1.

 1=v+2u1v+2=u1    ...2 

Equating 1 and 2, we have

u1=4 m s-1.

Asked in: JEE Main 2023 (25 Jan Shift 2)

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