OCR M3 2008 January — Question 3

Exam BoardOCR
ModuleM3 (Mechanics 3)
Year2008
SessionJanuary
TopicMomentum and Collisions 2

3
\includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{7e0f600a-18f1-458b-8549-27fca592b19c-3_419_921_267_612} Two uniform smooth spheres \(A\) and \(B\), of equal radius, have masses 6 kg and 3 kg respectively. They are moving on a horizontal surface when they collide. Immediately before the collision the velocity of \(A\) has components \(4 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) along the line of centres towards \(B\), and \(v \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) perpendicular to the line of centres. \(B\) is moving with speed \(8 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) along the line of centres towards \(A\) (see diagram). The coefficient of restitution between the spheres is \(e\).
  1. Find, in terms of \(e\), the component of the velocity of \(A\) along the line of centres immediately after the collision.
  2. Given that the speeds of \(A\) and \(B\) are the same immediately after the collision, and that \(3 e ^ { 2 } = 1\), find \(v\).