COLLISION

AIM
✓ To explain concept of Collision.
✓ To explain types of Collision.
✓ Coefficient of restitution.
✓ To study Head-On Elastic Collision
✓ To study the energy transmission

THEORY
COLLISION:
Collision is said to occur if two bodies interact strongly for very short interval of time. e.g., Hitting

a
the ball, accident of two vehicles etc.

U1 U2
Large force is imparted in short interval of time
V1

ot
V2

K
Impulse on A = Impulse on B

r
FA X = -FR X t
t

e
(m1v 1 - m1 u1) = -(m2v2 - m2u2)

m1u1 + m2u2 = m1v1 + m2v2

e
Momentum before collision = Momentum after collision

a r
TYPES OF COLLISIONS

C
1] ELASTIC COLLISION AND INELASTIC COLLISION
Elastic collision: Collision is said to be elastic if both the bodies come to their original shape and
size after the collision, i.e., no fraction of mechanical energy remains stored as deformation potential
energy in the bodies. Thus in addition to the linear momenh1m, kinetic energy also remains
conserved before and after collision for Elastic collision.

m1 u1 m2u2+ m1v1 =mzVz +

1
+2
1
2 m1u1
2
m2u2 - +
z _l 2
m1v1
2
2
m 1v2

Inelastic collision: Collision is said to be inelastic if both the bodies do not retain their original
shape and size after the collision, i.e. some fraction of mechanical energy remains stored as
deformation potential energy in the bodies. Thus only linear momentum remains conserved but
kinetic energy never remains conserved before and after collision for Inelastic collision.
m1u1 +
m2u2 m1v1= mzVz +
1 1
+2
1
+2
1 2 2 2 2
2 m 1 u1 m2u2 *
2
m1v1 m2v2

1
2] HEAD ON COLLISION
If the directions of the velocity of colliding objects are along the line of action of the impulses,
acting at the instant of collision then it is called as head-on or direct collision. Otherwise the impact
is said to be oblique or indirect or eccentric.
Coefficient ofRestitution (Newton's Experimental Law ofRestitution):
The ratio of relative speed of separation to relative speed of approach is constant for two given set of
objects. This ratio "e" is called the coefficient of restitution and is constant for two particular
objects.

------------
Relativ speed of separation
= e = ---
v2 - v1
Relative speed of approach u1 - u2
1] For perfect Elastic collision e =1

a
2] For perfect In-elastic collision e =0 (bodies stick together)

t
Value of e changes between O � e � 1

K o
Head-on Elastic Collision:

e r
Consider two spheres A and B of mass m 1 and m2, which are moving in the same straight line and to

e
the right with known velocities u1 and u2 as shown in figure. The velocities become v 1 and v2 of the

r
spheres after collision as shown in figure.

a
Conserving momentum of the colliding bodies before and after the collision

C
m1u1 + m2u2 = m1v1 + m2v2 ........ (i)
Applying Newton's experimental aw
We have v2 - v1 = -(u2 - u1 ) {e = 1 for Elastic Collision}
Vz = V1 - (uz - u1 ) ......... (ii)
Putting (ii) in (i) we obtain
m1 u1 + m2 u2 = m1 v1 + m2{ v1 - (u2 - ui )}
(m1 - m2 )u1 + 2m2 u2 = (m1 + m2 )v1
_ (m 1 -m 2 )u 1 2m 2 u 2
V1 - (m 1 +m2 )
+ (m 1 +mz)
_ (m 2 -m 1 )u 2 2m 1u 1
Vz - (m + m ) + (m +m )
1 z 1 z

2
SPECIAL CASES
1] IDENTICAL BODIES
If m1 = m2 =m v1 = u2 and v2 = u1
i.e., when two particles of equal mass collide elastically and the collision is head on, then they
exchange their velocities.
c:::r
0
Ut

V1 = U2
V2 = U1

a
2] m2 » m1

t
Lighter body into heavier body from behind

o
m1-m2 2m2
V1 = (---=--=-) U1
m1+m2
+ -----=--
m1+m2
V2 = -U1 + 2U2

v1 = -u1 + 2u2 velocity of the lighter body

r K
e
v2 = u2 Heavier body contains to more with almost the same velocity

r e
C a
4] m 1 » m2
A heavy body of the hits a light body from behind
With these approximation the final velocity of the bodies are v1 = u1 and v2 = 2u1 - u2
Heavy body contains to more with almost same velocity

3
5] m 1 » m2, u2 = 0
If the lighter body were kept at rest
Then v1 = u1 it will contains to move almost same velocity
ty o fthe heavier body
v = 2u1 lighter body will fly a way with a velocity donate the veloci
2
2mz )
Vi= (m 1 -m2 )u1 + ( u2 ⇒ Vi= U1
m 1 +m 2 m 1 +m 2
_ 2m1u 1 + -----------
- -------- (m 2 -m2 ) Uz ⇒
Vz m +m2 Vz = 2 U1
1 m1 +m 2

Q-u,
Qo

t a
o
Transfer of kinetic energy in a head -on elastic collision:
Vi = 2
(m 1 -mz) Ui + m2 Uz ⇒ Vi= (m1 -mz) Ui

K
m1 +m z m1 +mz m1 +m 2
v1 ➔ velocity retained after collision

v2 ➔ Velocity transfered

e r
e
Fraction of velocity transferred
vz = 2m 1

r
u1 m 1 +m 2

• ed by m1 = p1 = m1 v1 = m [--------
m1 - z u m

a
] 1
Momentum retam m1 +m2

C
m1 -m2
P1 = [m ]
1 p
+m
2
2m2
2m1m2 U
Momentum transferred by m1 to m2 P2 = m2 Vz = m 1 +m2 1 = m 1 +m2 P

Transfer of kinetic energy in a head -on elastic collision

m1 -m2 2m 1 1 z
i] =
U1, Vz = U1; K = - m1U1
Vt
m1 +m 2 m1 +m 2 2
ii] KE of m1 after collision.
2
1 z_ 1 (m1 -m2) z
K1 = -ml Vi - -ml --- U1;
2 2 m1 +m 2

:. Fraction of KE retained by m1 is; =