5.

38 /

Module - 5

5.7 Collision of elastic bodies

and during which the
Collision of two bodies which occurs in a very small interval of time
when two bodies collide
bodies exert very large force on each other is called an impact.

two

is called line of
with each other, the common nofinal to the surfaces oftwo bodies in contact
colliding bodies, the
impact. when this line of impact passes through the mass centers ofthe
bodies before collision are along
impact is called central impact. If the velocities ofthe two
indirect oroblique
of impact, the impact is called direct impact, otherwise it is called
the line

impact.

impact

G) lndirect impac!

(a) Direct imPact

Fig.5-33

Direct impact between elastic bodies'

direction alongthe same

Considertwo spheres of masses m, and mrmoving in the same
will collide' According to
)
straight line with velocities u, and u,' If u' u" the two spheres
*
fl,V, * mrV, where V, and Y
the law of conservation of momentum, mrur ffi, u, =
'are
collision of elastic bodies states
the velocities of the spheres after impact.Newton's law of
separation bears a constant
that when two bodies collide with each other, their velocity of
is proportional to the velocity
ratio to their velocity of approach. The velocity of separation
ofrestitution and is denoted
of approach. This constant of proportionality is called coeffrcient

by

e.

V"_V,
L

ut -

uz

-^

Vr-V,:e(u,-ur).
Thevalueof eliesbetween0 andl.Forperfectlyelasticbodiese =
bodies, e :0.
'Loss

andforinglastic

of kinetic energy during impact'

It is the difference between the sum of kinetic energJ of the

impact.

masses before and after the

Module - 5

5.39

Sum of kinetic enerry before impact

) *,ur, + )
I --^ I
..
Sumofkineticener:gy atter rmpact =
i, ^ry ,, + i

mrur,

frry r,

Therefore, Ioss ofkinetic energy during impact

_1 u,,^+ I
: [,
i
^,

mrur2)

_ [,I

^,

V ,,

mry rr)

Example 5.33

A car of weight20 kN moving at a speed of 0.5 m/s to the right collides

with

a car of
weight 35 kN which is at rest. If after the collision the second
car is observed to move to the
right at a speed of 0.3 m/s. Determine the coefficient of restitution
between the two cars.
Solution.

20 x
ml = -;

tn, =

103

kg ur = 0.5 rnls

3l+kgiu2
o

= o,

v, :0.3 m/s.

Applying momentum equation

D,u,
2038.74

0.5

* mrV,
x 0=2038.74 V,+ 3567.7gx

m2U2

+ 3567.79

V,:

m, V,

0.3

-0.025mls

= 0.025 m/s towards left

e

Example

5.34

A sphere of

mass 4 kg moving

V, _ 0.3 - (- 0.025)
ur-uz
0.5-0

_ V, -

e:

o'65

with a velocity of 5 m/s approaches a sphere of mass 3

kg moving with a velocity of 4 m/s. If a direct impact takes place,
find their velocity after the

impact. Take

e :0.5.

5'40
Module -

Solution.

m, = 4kg u,= 5m'/s

fr, :3 kg u, :4

e:0'5

m/s

From momentum equation

* ffiru, = mrv' * *' v'

4"5 + 3x4 :4xV, * 3xV'

ffiru,

V' + 3 V2 : 32 ---------------(i)

of elastic bodies'
From Newton's law of collision
U-

vr-V,
ut

uz

Vr-V,:0.5(5-4)
4Y'-4V'=2----(11)
Adding eqns (i) and (ii),

Y, :34
Vz = 4'86 m/s
Vr-V,=6.5
7

4.56

ExamPte

-V, : 0.5
Vr :4'36

5'35 dl

m/s

tt.-

lzkgate movmg Iinthe

mls,4rnlsand2m/s'respectively' IftheballAstrikeswith
samedireiiionwithvilocities tZ
B will be brought to rest by
ball c, prove that the balls A and
B and
Three perfectly efastlc ballsA,

i-- kg and
2kg,6
of masses ^

ball B which in turn strikes with

the imPact.
Solution.

fro:Zkg;uo :l?mls e:l

ffi" =6kg;us =4mls

m":l}kg;
.

uc = 2m/s

Firstconsiderthe collision of ballsAandB

ffioun+mBuB

2xl2+ 6x4

: froVo*m"V"
=2

*Vo* 6xVB

Module -

5.41

VA+3Yr:24-_-(i)

^-V"-Vo
'-"o-",
1

: V, -Vo
V" -Vo :8 V ---(ii)

x (12-4)

Adding eqns (i) and (ii)

4Yr: 32
V":8 m/s
Fromeqn(i)Vo+3x 8:24
Vo:0
c

The ball A is brought to rest and the velocity of ball B is 8 m/s. The ball B strikes the ball
with this velocity of 8 m/s. consider the collision between ball B and ball c.

u, : 8 m,/s m, :6
u. :2 m,/s m" :

kg

12 kg

uc : ffi"V, * -. V.
6x8+12x2 :6V"+l2xYc

m"\

*mc

YB+2Yr:

12 ----(i)

^-v.-vu
--us-uc
1x

(8-2):V.-V"
V.-Vr:6 ---(ii)

Adding equations (i) and (ii)

3V.:
V.:

18

6m/s

From eqn (ii)

6-Vr:6
vr:0
The

ball B is brought to rest due to the second impact.

Module -

5'42

Example 5.36
with another car of mass
A car of mass 15000 kg moving with velocity 1.5 m/s collides
direction' After the impact the two cars
12000 kg moving with velocity 0 .7 5 mls in the same
cars just after the impact' Also calcumove together. Determine the speed of the coupled
late the loss of kinetic energy due to the impact'
Solution.

:
m, :
m,

15000

kg u, = 1.5 m./s

12000

kg u,

0'75 m/s

vl = v2 :v
Applying momentum equation.
ffi,U,

mittz

m' V'

* m' V'

: ( 15000 + 12000 ) V
v : 1.17 m/s.

15000x 1.5 + 12000x 0.75

Loss of kinetic energy = Initial

K.E' - Final K'E'

+)

-i

l:X

I I2000x
1
-0'752 1.52+
x
;
, "15000x

rrl

:1769.85

u,2

^,u,,J

v'

,rn, + m,)

x27000x1.172

J.

Direct impact of a body with a fixed plane'

plane' In direct
Consider a body of mass m moving with a velocity u m/s strikes a fixed
the mass of the fixed
impact, the line of impact will be perpendicular to the fixed plane. Since
of momenplane is infinity ( very large compared to the mass m ), the law of conservation

tumcannotbeaPPlied. |1.,-

ul:u

Coeffi cient of restitution,

o-w-

V, -V'

ur-uz

,l

.)i

0-v
=-

ml:m

lr

ri
1/

m2:

u-0
V

=-- u

u^:Vr=0
/L

Fig.5.34

Module - 5

5.43

The negative sign shows the change in the direction of velocity. Rebounding velocity

will be opposite to the striking velocity u.

a--

V
u

V:eu
Rebounding velocity =

x striking velocity-

When a body is dropped from a height ho, the velocity with which it strikes the grqund

is,uo = J, glr,

When a body is projected vertically upwards with a velocity u, the maximum height
attained by the body will be,

-h = ,)'

zg

Consider a body which is dropped from

h,

height ho upon a horizontal fixed plane. Let h,,

h, etc be the height attained by the body in the first, second, third rebounce etc.

5'44
Module -

The striking velocity

"o

\E;

h;,

uo
The rebounding velocitY ur = e

"JiiG
,r,' tJE
h, =

fr

zg

-erho

Afterthefirstbounce,thebodystrikesthefixedplanewithvelocityu'andrebounces
with velocitY ur.

=eut

u2

=QXO ,..8 sh"

h.=L
t
u3

Ur

)o

=eo

2Eho
)a

= "'^[ zEG

eoho

: avz
{

=eX "',fZ1,5o =.'.,fil,h;

2gho

u32 _ eu
_ eu*ho
L
,3-_
2g
29
etc'
SimilarlY h, : ot ho and hs = e'o ho
ExamPIe 5.37

the height of
m on a smooth floor' Knowing that
Aball is dropped from a height of 1

first bounce is 81 cm, determine'

(i) the coefficient of restitution and
bounce'
(ii) the expected height ofthe second
Solution.

ho:1m
h, = 0.81 m

(D h,=e2ho
0.81 = e2x

e:0.9

I'i

5.45

Module - 5

(ii) h, :

:
:

oo ho

0.94x

0.656 m

Example 5.38
From what height must a heavy elastic ball be dropped on a horizontal floor so that
rebouncing thrice it will reach a height of 16 m. Take e = (0.5)'/'
Solution.

hr:16m

e:

( 0.5

)1/3

hr:e6ho

16: (0.5)'ox6x
:0.25

ho:64

ho

ho

The ball should be dropped from a height of 64 m.

Example 5.39
A glass ball is dropped on to a smooth horizontal floor from which it bounces to a height
of 9 m. On the second bounce it rises to a height of 6 m. From what height the ball was
dropped and what is the value of e.
Solution.

h,

:9m

hr:6 m
h' : 'ho:9

hr.:Eoho=6m

hrr6

:-6--_

hr9
e:

0.816

h,= e2ho: 9m
0.816'z

ho:9
ho

13.52 m

The ball was dropped from a height 13.52 m above the floor.

Module -

5'46

Example 5.40
horizontal plane' Ifthe coefficient of
A body of mass m falls from a height houpon a fixed
described by the body before it has
restitution is e, show that the total vertical distance
finished rebounding

i, (

|l+

) ho dnd that the total time of travel is

l *j '' l?!': ril-e'tl

;
Solution.
ho
The distance travelled just before first impact =

Maximum height reached after first impact

h,

e2

Total distancetravelled between first and second

Maximum height attained after the second impact

ho

impact : 2hr:2
= h, = ea ho.

impact
Total distance traveled between second and third

: Zhr:2

and fourth impact

Similarly the total distance travelled between third

ez ho

ea ho

:2

e6

ho and so on'

The total distance travelled by the body,

H:

ho+

e2ho+2 eaho+ 2 e6 ho+

ho+ 2 e2 ho ( l+e2 +e4 +

:ho* 2ezhot,_ yl
.t

ho (1

'n"

^2

;:J)
It-"'+2e21

L-r=

: 1!td; no
l-ef2t
Time to fall freely from aheightho, to=

Firstrebouncingvelocity, u,

{?

"

:ouo: {'?gt1

-.1

e6

---)

Module - 5

"(
Height attained in the first rebounds,

h, :

Time to attain h,, ,,

e2ho

: Eh.
{ ,

2e2 ho
o

2ho
o
b

Time to attained height

h,tr:

Ei:

t-

!e

E"'r\
Ve

_^,Ei
-'1/
s

Total time of trave T

: to * 2 tt + 2 tr* 2 t, + .....

-IEG
s

2e
' + l-e' )

(1

-l-e+2e
={,EG (-.-)
l-e

t=(=)

EC
1/ t

5.48
Module -

ExamPle 5.41

fJJu

:';:**

rrom

height 5 m upon

::'f:*:i:::i:rii*:,T$Hn:::

''';l
,",fJ,11',T$;1:f,ilfl l"Ti:il#"iH'#[l*:i*:roreithasnnishedrebound'
to ffavel the total distance

;n}ffi;;;"

;;

total time taken

Solution.

ho:5m
e

= 0.'15

The total distance travelled'

-2
ltc

g = 1l-i)
'1
-e"

ho

_,t'1 + 0.75'_y* s
- 0.75'
=

17.86 m'

Total time of travel

1+ e, EG
r =(;)!
,
I + 0.75.I

-t
- t1

= 7.07

0.75'

elastic bodies'
Oblique impact between
line of impactf:'":,Y:1;1:li:ffi;;fT;r"t};|la;;:
In centrar impact, the
are inclined to the lil
,r"'J"[Hi:1-1l1lJ]:':::;i,llJ"Hl'ffi;;sdi'rineorimpactrhecoilisionis
i.pact the direion of velocities

to be obliqu" wt "nl,rst

i"for" tt

"

*, and
verocities u, and u, Let
and mrmovingwith
m,
masses
of
two bodies
u, ano u2 -'.
veloc itie s u'
or velocities
of
", 11 :t:,
be
be the inclination
ri" impac
;*ou"t as shown in frg' 536'
just after the
be the veiocities
and 0, with the

'*pll'n.ia",

fi" "fitpuct

ld

*:':'^:::.:;;

f:-".t# |i: ny'*Xi Il ?1

Module -

5.49

uz

iq, 7i.,}

\ x\ >t,
vt

Y2

Fig.5.36
Since the force of impact is along the line of impact and the force of impact on each body

is equal and opposite, the momentum is conserved along the line of impact. Equating the

initial and final momentum of bodies along the line of impact,

frl,xU,

COS

C[l

* mrxU2 COS Gz: flr

V,COS

0, * 4, VrCOS 0, .....(i)

Coeffi cient of restitution,

_
":

velocityofseperationalongthelineofimpact,r\
--(I)
V, cos 0, - V, cos 0,
ui cos 0t - uz cos 0. 2 ---(2)

Since there is no force perpendicular to the line

of impact, the component of velocity

along the perpendicular to the line of impact remains constant.

u,sin
and ursin

cr,

ur:

V, sin er ----- (3)

Y, sin 0,

---

(4)

From the above four equations we can solve for

V,

V2, 0, and 0r, the magnitude and

direction ofvelocities just after impact.

Example 5.42
The magnitude and direction of the velocities of two identical smooth balls before they

strike each other are shown infig5.37 . Taking e : 0.9, determine the magnitude and direc-

tion of the velocity of each ball after the impact.

v,

v2

q1

Fi5.5.37

"

2=

600

l5m/s

5'50
Module -

Solution.

of impact is conserved'
The momentum alongthe line
cos 0, + mV' cos
mul cos cli - mu2 cos cL2 - - mV,

0'

- - Vr cos 0' * V' cos 0'

i)
1'16 -----(
- V, cos er + V2 cos 0 =
10 cos

30

15 cos 60

Coefficientofrestitution'

V,

cos 0,

*V,

cos

Adding equations (i) and

2

V.

cos

0, - (-V,

cos

0,)

@
-------(ii)
0'9 [10 cos30 + 15 cos 60] = 14'tO

er:

(ii)'

0r: 15'7
V, cos 0, :7 -85 ---(iiD
V, cos

Sincethecomponentofvelocityperpendiculartothelineofimpactremainsconstant,
u,sin o,: V, sin 0, -----(iv)
ursin
From eqn (v)

V,

sin

crr: V,

0, :

sin

0, ----------(v)

15 sin 60

= l2.gg
From eqn (

iii) V, cos 0, : 7 '85

tzn 0, :1.655
0z

58'860

7'85

V, cos 58.86

From

V2 = 15'18 m/s'
+ V'cos 0t :1'4'54
eqn (ii) 15'18 cos 58'86
V, cos 0r:6.69
From eqn (iv) V, sin 0,
tan

0r =
0

ulsin

Gr

= 10 sin 30

;;,
36'77o

'=
V, cos 36-77 = 6'69

V':

8'35 m/s'

Module - 5

5.5t

Oblique impact of a body with a fixed plane.

Consider a body of mass m striking on a fixed horiz.ontalplane with a velocity u, inclined
cr with the line of impact as shown in fig 5 .3 8. Let V be the velocity of body after the impact
and 0 be the direction of velocity after impact.
Since the component of velocity perpendicular to the line of impact remains constan!

usino: Vsin0 ---(i)

Coefficient ofrestitution, =

Vcos0
ucos0

eucoscr = Vcos0-:-(ii)
From the above equations we can solve for V and 0
the magnitude and direction of body after impact.

Fig.5.38

Example 5.43
A ball movingwith avelocity of 6 m/s sfrikes ona fixed horbantalplane at an angleof30
with horizontal. Ifthe coefficient of restitution is 0.8, determine the magnitude and directim
of velocity ofthe ball as it rebounds from the plane.
Solutio

o:90 -30:600
u : 6 m,/s.
e:0.8
Since component of velocity perpendicular to the line of impact remains constant,

usincr

V sin 0

:6

Coefficient of restitution

"

vsin0
sin 60

5.196.

cos e

Fig.5.36

eucosu, V cos 0

Y uuse

0.8x 6 cos 60
2.4

tan e

2.165

65.210

V cos 65.21

2.4
5.72 mls

Fig.5.39