Written

Problem Set 6: Solutions1

6.72

A bug of inertia mb collides with the windshield of a Mack truck of inertia mt mb
at an instant when the relative speed of the two is vbt .

Part (a)
Express the system momentum in the trucks reference frame (T), then transform
that expression to the bugs reference frame (B), and in so doing remove mb vbt from
the expression. (Remember, in the bugs reference frame, the bug is initially at rest
and the truck is moving.)

Part (b)
Now express the system momentum in the bugs reference frame, then transform
that expression to the trucks reference frame, and in so doing remove mt vbt from
the expression.

Part (c)
Is there something wrong here? How can we change the momentum by a small
amount mb vbt doing the transformation one way and by a large amount mt vbt doing
the transformation the other way?

Solution
Part (a)

!
!
!
!
!
!
In the truck reference frame (T): pT ,sys = pT ,b + pT ,t = mb vT ,b + mt vT ,t = mb vT ,bt . Since
!
the truck is not moving in the truck reference frame, vT ,t = 0 . The negative sign is
included due to the (arbitrary) choice of coordinate axes; the velocity of the bug in
the truck reference frame is selected in the negative direction and equal in
!
!
magnitude to the relative speed: vT ,b = vT ,bt . Transform using the frame-
!
!
!
transformation rule: vA,o = vAB + vB,o for the velocity of an object, o, measured in
frame A and in frame B, where frame B is moving with respect to frame A.
!
!
Transforming, obtain pB,sys = mT vB,bt .

1 Solutions and brief explanations provided. Method not shown. Use only as a guide
for discussion in class.

Part (b)

!
!
In the bug reference frame (B): pB,sys = mT vB,bt . After transforming to the truck
!
!
reference frame, obtain: pT ,sys = mb vT ,bt

Part (c)
There is noting wrong here. Since you are working in different reference frames, you
will measure different added momenta in each; a small or large amount depending
on the reference frame.

6.74
Asteroid (A1), m = 3.60 10 6 kg, and asteroid (B1), m = 1.20 10 6 kg,
collide head-on in space. Approximate (rather poorly) the collision as being elastic.
Observers watch the event from two space platforms. An observer on platform Q
measures the speed of to be 528 m/s and the speed of to be 315 m/s, and sees
heading directly toward . The second platform, platform Z, is at rest in the zero-
momentum reference frame of the asteroids.

Part a
What is the combined momentum of the asteroids measured from platform Q?

Part b
What is the velocity of platform Z relative to platform Q?

Part c
Draw velocity, momentum, and kinetic energy graphs for the asteroids as viewed
from platform Z, using graphs like those in Figure P6.74 (reproduced below).
Assume the collision begins at t=40 s and lasts for 20 s.
Velocity

Momentum

Kinetic Energy

Part d
Add a curve for the momentum of the system to the momentum graph you
constructed in part c.

Part e
What happens to the kinetic energy when its curve bends?

Part f
On your kinetic energy graph from part c, show what an observer on platform Z sees
for the convertible and nonconvertible kinetic energies of the asteroids.

Part g
Repeat parts cf as seen from platform Q.

Solution

It is helpful to draw a picture of the collision in the two reference frames for the
initial and final states of the system.

Part a

Let asteroid be initially moving in the +x direction. The total system momentum
!
!
!
in the Q reference frame is given by pQ,sys,i = m vQ, ,i + m vQ, ,i = 1.52 10 9 i kg m/s.

Part b

Platform Z (reference frame Z) moves at the same velocity as the center of mass of
!
pQ,sys,i
!
the system. Find the center of mass velocity: vQ,cm =
= 317.25i m/s in the Q
m + m
reference frame.

Part c

!
!
!
In reference frame Z, vZ , ,i = vQ, ,i vQZ = 528 317 = 211i m/s and
!
!
!
vZ , ,i = vQ, ,i vQZ = 315 317 = 632i m/s. After the collision, we know that the
velocities simply change in direction, not magnitude, due to the symmetry of the Z
!
!
frame (see Figure 6.12 in the textbook). So vZ , , f = vZ , ,i = 211i m/s and
!
!
v
= v
= 632i m/s.
Z , , f

Z , ,i

Plot these velocities:

!
!
Multiply by the inertias and plot the momenta: pZ , ,i = m vZ , ,i = 0.7587 10 9 i kg
!
!
=m v
= 0.7587 10 9 i kg m/s as expected for the zero momentum
m/s and p
Z , ,i

Z , ,i

frame. The momenta switch signs after the collision as shown in Figure 6.12 in the
textbook. Plot these momenta:

Finally, calculate the kinetic energies for this elastic collision.

K Z , ,i = 12 m v 2Z , ,i = 0.7995 1011 J and K Z , ,i = 12 m v 2Z , ,i = 2.398 1011 J. After the
collision, since the velocities simply change signs, the kinetic energy does not
change. During the collision, the kinetic energies must drop to zero as the speed
goes to zero (presumably all the energy is reversibly transferred into the stored
elastic potential of the asteroidsthey must be giant super balls or something).

Part d

Part e
The kinetic energy curves bend as the kinetic energy is converted to other forms.

Part f
The translational kinetic energy is zero: K Z ,cm =

1
2

(m

+ m v 2Z ,cm = 0 because the

observer on platform Z is moving with the center of mass velocity and hence
measures that velocity as zero. The convertible kinetic energy is given by
K Z ,conv = 12 vZ2 ,12 = 3.198 1011 J. The relative speed is the same before and after, but
drops to zero at the t = 50 s.

Part g
Repeat Part c
Velocity
!
vQ, ,i = 528 m/s
!
vQ, ,i = 315 m/s
!
!
!
vQ, , f = vQZ + vZ , , f = 317.25 210.75 = 106.5 m/s
!
!
!
vQ, , f = vQZ + vZ , , f = 317.25 + 632.25 = 949.5 m/s

Momentum
!
pQ, ,i = 1.9008 10 9 kg m/s
!
pQ, ,i = 3.7800 10 8 kg m/s
!
pQ, , f = 3.8340 10 8 kg m/s
!
pQ, , f = 1.1394 10 9 kg m/s


Kinetic Energy
K Q, ,i = 5.0181 1011 J
K Q, ,i = 5.9535 1010 J
K Q, , f = 2.0416 1010 J
K Q, , f = 5.4093 1011 J

Repeat Part d
!
pQ,sys = 1.5228 10 9 kg m/s

Repeat Part e
The curves bend as kinetic energy is converted to other forms.

Repeat Part f

K Q,conv = 12 vQ2 , =
K Q,cm =

1
2

(m

+ m

( 9.0 10 )( 843) = 3.1979 10 J

) v = ( 4.8 10 )( 317.25 ) = 2.42 10
5

1
2

2
Q,cm

1
2

11

11

6.76

A 1500-kg van is coasting to a stoplight at 15 m/s. A 1000-kg car behind the van is
doing the same thing at 25 m/s and crashes into the rear of the van. The bumpers
collide with a coefficient of restitution of 0.70.

Part a
What are the final velocities of the two vehicles?

Part b
How much kinetic energy is converted to internal energy in this collision?

Part c
How much energy is converted if the bumpers lock together in a totally inelastic
collision?

Solution

Draw a picture.
Work in the center of mass reference frame for simplest solution method.

Part a
Let the direction of the motion of both cars before the collision be in the positive x
!
!
mc vc,i + mv vv,i
!
direction. The velocity of the center of mass is given by vcm =
= 19i m/s.
mc + mv
!
!
In this reference frame, the final momentum must be zero so mc vcm,c, f = mv vcm,v, f
(equation 1). We are give the coefficient of restitution which is the ratio of the
differences in velocities before and after the collision between the two objects:

!
!
vcm,v, f vcm,c, f
. Solving for the center of mass final velocity of the van in terms
e= !
!
vcm,v,i vcm,c,i
!
!
of the car from this expression yields vcm,v, f = vcm,c, f + 7.0i m/s. Combining with
!
!
equation 1 above yields vcm,c, f = 4.2i m/s and vcm,v, f = 2.8i m/s. Now convert both
!
!
!
!
back to the Earth reference frame using vE,o = vE,cm + vcm,o . This gives vE,v, f = 22i m/s
!
and vE,c, f = 15i m/s. So, in the Earth frame, both vehicles continue to move in their
initial direction of motion after the collision.

Part b
Simply take the difference between the final and initial kinetic energy of the system:
K sys = K sys, f K sys,i = 12 mc v c,2 f v c,i2 + mv v v,2 f v v,i2 = 15 kJ. 15 kJ of energy was

converted into internal energy during the collision.

Part c
In this case, all convertible energy is converted into internal energy. The amount
converted can be written K sys = K sys,conv,i = 12 vcv2 = 30 kJ.

6.78

The transformation between position and time measurements in an inertial

reference frame I and position and time measurements in a constantly accelerating
(noninertial) reference frame N is given by

t N = t I = t
! ! !
!

rN = r1 vIN t 12 aIN t 2
!
where vIN is the velocity of the noninertial reference frame at t = 0 measured from
!
the inertial reference frame and aIN is the acceleration of the noninertial reference
frame measured from the inertial reference frame.

Derive

!
!
Derive by differentiation the transformation laws, giving vN and aN in terms of vI
and aI .

Solution
Derivation

Start with the second equation. Take the first derivative with respect to time. Since
time is the same in all reference frames, there is no ambiguity in the time derivative.
!
!
Also note that aIN is a constant, and vIN is a constant that describes the velocity

d !
d ! !
!
!
! !
!
difference at time t = 0 only. Thus, vN = ( rN ) = ( r1 vIN t 12 aIN t 2 ) = v1 vIN aIN t
dt
dt
d !
d ! !
!
!
! !
and aN = ( vN ) = ( v1 vIN aIN t ) = a1 aIN .
dt
dt