Year: 2002
Paper: 1
Question Number: 11
Course: UFM Mechanics
Section: Momentum and Collisions 2
No solution available for this problem.
Difficulty Rating: 1500.0
Difficulty Comparisons: 0
Banger Rating: 1484.0
Banger Comparisons: 1
$\,$
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A particle $P_1$ of mass $m$ collides with a particle $P_2$
of mass $km$ which is at rest. No energy is lost in the collision.
The direction of motion
of $P_1$ and $P_2$ after the collision make
non-zero
angles of $\theta$ and $\phi$, respectively, with the direction of motion
of $P_1$ before the collision, as shown. Show that
\[
\sin^2\theta + k\sin^2\phi = k\sin^2(\theta+\phi) \;.
\]
Show that, if the angle between the particles after the collision is a right angle,
then $k=1\,$.