Collision

The striking of one particle with other particle or an interaction between them is
called collision.

Elastic Collision:
In this type of collision both the momentum and the kinetic energy of the system
remain conserver.

Inelastic Collision:
In this type of collision both the momentum of the system remains conserver but
the kinetic energy doesn’t remain conserved.

Elastic Collision in one dimension:

Since the momentum remains conserved
m1u1 + m2u2 = m1v1 + m2v2

Since the Kinetic Energy remains conserved

(1/2)m1u12 + (1/2)m2u22 = (1/2)m1v12 + (1/2)m2v22
u1 - u2 = - (v1 - v2)

Relative velocity before collision = Relative velocity after collision.

Velocity of the particle A = v2 = u1 – u2 + v1
v1 = [(m1 – m2) / (m1 + m2)] u1 + [(2m2) / (m1 + m2)] u2
Velocity of the particle B = v1 = u2 – u1 + v2
v2 = [(2m1) / (m1 + m2)] u1 - [(m1 – m2) / (m1 + m2)] u2
Case 1: If m1= m2
Then v2 = u1 and v1 = u2
The velocities of the particles get interchanged.

Case 2: If the second particle is at rest u2 = 0

Velocity of the particle A = v2 = u1 – u2 + v1
v1 = [(m1 – m2) / (m1 + m2)] u1
Velocity of the particle B = v1 = u2 – u1 + v2
v2 = [(2m1) / (m1 + m2)] u1
also, if m1= m2
then v2 = u1 and v1 = 0.

I.e. after collision the 1st particle will come to rest and the 2nd particle starts
moving with the velocity of the 1st particle.

Case 3: If m2 << m1, mass m2 is negligible compared to mass m1

then v2 = 2u1 and v1 = u1.
Thus if a heavy body collides with a stationary body, the heavy body continues
to move with the same velocity whereas the other body starts moving with twice
the velocity of the heavy body.
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