Two small blocks, each of mass m, are placed on a table in a vacuum chamber. The blocks are initially separated by a distance d and held in place by two springs. The two blocks are then released, and they move towards each other, eventually colliding and rebounding. The total momentum of the blocks remains constant throughout the collision.
The Momentum Principle
The momentum principle states that the total momentum of a system is constant if no external forces act on it. This means that before and after any collision, the total momentum of the two blocks remains the same. The momentum before collision is the sum of the two blocks’ individual momentums. After collision, the momentum of each block is reversed, but their total momentum remains the same.
The Conservation of Energy
The conservation of energy states that the total energy of a system is constant if no external forces act on it. This means that the total kinetic energy of the two blocks before and after collision remains the same. The kinetic energy of the two blocks before collision is the sum of the individual kinetic energies of each block. After collision, the kinetic energy is redistributed among the two blocks.
Elastic Collision
An elastic collision is one in which no energy is lost due to the collision. In this case, the two blocks collide and rebound with the same kinetic energy they had before the collision. This means that the total kinetic energy remains constant throughout the collision. The two blocks rebound in the opposite direction to which they were travelling before the collision.
Inelastic Collision
An inelastic collision is one in which some energy is lost due to the collision. In this case, the two blocks collide and rebound with less kinetic energy than they had before the collision. This means that the total kinetic energy is reduced due to the collision. The two blocks rebound in the same direction to which they were travelling before the collision.
When two small blocks of mass m are placed in a vacuum chamber, their momentum and kinetic energy can change due to collisions. The momentum principle states that the total momentum of the system is constant. The conservation of energy states that the total kinetic energy of the system is constant. The type of collision determines whether the kinetic energy is conserved or not. In an elastic collision, the kinetic energy is conserved, while in an inelastic collision, some energy is lost.
