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13

By the Newtonian definition, the photon wouldn't count due to its zero mass, but this is a relativistic collision, so you need a relativistic definition of the center of mass. Relativistically, the c.m. frame is the one in which the total momentum four-vector of the system is purely timelike. No, this does not coincide with the electron's frame. What you're ...

10

The reference frame of the center of mass is, by definition, the one where the total $3$-momentum vanishes. It exists almost always also for massless particles as I go to discuss. The total $4$-momentum $P$ of a system of $N$ free particles is the sum of their $4$-momenta of the particles, i.e., $$P = \sum_{a=1}^N P_{(a)}\:,$$ where each $P_{(a)}$ is a ...

5

Let's turn this around. In an inelastic collision, some of the energy, instead of remaining with the center of mass of the objects colliding, is dissipated as heat - an increase in the random motion of the atoms and molecules of the objects colliding. At the (sub) atomic level, the two particles involved in a simple collision are the same two objects that ...

2

Yes, the insect does actually travel at 0mph when it reverses direction. The critical aspect that you are missing is that the time that it is not moving is infinitely short. Actually, I would think that the head stops, then the thorax and finally the tail as it is squished up against the train.

2

Both the insect and the train window are deformable. Microscopically so, but deformable nonetheless. Because of that fact, the insect slows continuously to zero, reverses direction, and then speeds up in the direction the train is going. To our human perception this happens imperceptibly fast.

2

Let's make a concrete example with numbers: Suppose that $v_a = 6m/s$ and $v_b = 0 \rightarrow E_k = 0.5 * 6^2 = 18, p_a = 1 * 6 = 6, v_{cm} = p/M = 2$ . According to the conservation of energy and momentum: Kinetic energy and momentum are conserved only in a perfect elastic collision, if the bodies stick together the collision is inelastic an ...

2

In this type of collision where you have what amounts to a very quick change in velocity, the force is called an impulse force and it is best to think of the equation a little differently. For example, instead of: $$\sum F = \frac{\Delta mv}{\Delta t}$$ Think of $\int F \mathrm{d}t$ being equal to the change in momentum, that is: $$\Delta mv = \int ... 1 The force can be surprisingly large, but \Delta t is not zero, and the force is not infinite. Make some estimates: the duration of the collision is so short that our eyes and brain cannot perceive it. Make an estimate for an upper limit for the duration. (There's no right answer, but a lot of wrong answers. For example, I would think that a duration ... 1 what is the force that the first marble applied one the second marble? The collision is almost instantaneous. Wouldn't that make the force in ΣF=Δmv/Δt insanely large because Δt is so small? Suppose two steel balls A, B of equal mass (m = 0.1 r = 0.03 m) collide and B is at rest: Ball A will exert on b the Impulse of a Force J and its velocity, ... 1 The problem with your solution is that the inelastic collision and assumption that kinetic energy is conserved are mutually exclusive. You can see that in your math when you try to solve for v_2. Rewriting equation (1) gives v_1=\left(m+M\right)v_2/m which inserted into (2) yields$$ m \left(\frac{m+M}mv_2\right)^2 = \left(m+M\right)v_2^2. This ...

1

Now if they are both shot at ballistic gelatin, which one is expected to cause more damage if both are stopped by the gelatin ? By damage here I mean more penetration, bigger cavity, heat and any other deformation of the gelatin. In other words, if the velocity of a projectile is doubled, will the amount of damage it causes when it collides with ...

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