Edexcel M2 Specimen — Question 8

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleM2 (Mechanics 2)
SessionSpecimen
TopicMomentum and Collisions 1

8. A small ball A of mass 3 m is moving with speed u in a straight line on a smooth horizontal table. The ball collides directly with another small ball B of mass m moving with speed \(u\) towards \(A\) along the same straight line. The coefficient of restitution between \(A\) and \(B\) is \(\frac { 1 } { 2 }\). The balls have the same radius and can be modelled as particles.
  1. Find
    1. the speed of A immediately after the collision,
    2. the speed of B immediately after the collision. A fter the collision \(B\) hits a smooth vertical wall which is perpendicular to the direction of motion of \(B\). The coefficient of restitution between \(B\) and the wall is \(\frac { 2 } { 5 }\).
  2. Find the speed of B immediately after hitting the wall.
    (2) The first collision between A and B occurred at a distance 4a from the wall. The balls collide again \(T\) seconds after the first collision.
  3. Show that \(T = \frac { 112 a } { 15 u }\).