Question

A steel ball moving with a velocity $\overline{v}$ collides with an identical ball originally at rest. The velocity of the first ball after the collision is :

• A. $(-\frac{1}{2})\overline{v}$
• B. $-\overline{v}$
• C. $\overline{v}$
• D. zero

Answer 1

The correct option is D zero

Here, a steel ball moving with a velocity $\overline{v}$ collides with an identical ball originally at rest. hence, masses of two steel balls are equal. For a head-on collision with a stationary object of equal mass, the projectile will come to rest and the target will move off with equal velocity, thus, the velocity of the first ball after the collision is zero.