DETAILED SOLUTIONS:

8. Consider the motion in one dimension, with the positive direction being the direction of motion of
the alpha particle. Let A represent the alpha particle, with a mass of mA , and let B represent the daughter
nucleus, with a mass of 57mA . The total momentum must be 0 since the nucleus decayed at rest. Use Eq.
7–3, in one dimension.
pinitial = pfinal ® 0 = mAu A
¢ + mBu B¢ ®
mAu A
¢ m (2.8 ´ 105 m/s)
u B¢ = - =- A ® u
| B¢ | = 4900 m/s
mB 57mA

Note that the masses do not have to be converted to kg, since all masses are in the same units, and a ratio of
masses is what is significant.

9. Consider the motion in one dimension, with the positive direction being the direction of motion of
the original nucleus. Let A represent the alpha particle, with a mass of 4 u, and let B represent the
new nucleus, with a mass of 218 u. Use Eq. 7–3 for momentum conservation.
pinitial = pfinal ® (mA + mB )u = mAu A
¢ + mBu B¢ ®
(mA + mB )u - mBu B¢ (222 u)(320 m/s) - (218 u)(280 m/s)
u A¢ = = = 2500 m/s
mA 4.0 u
Note that the masses do not have to be converted to kg, since all masses are in the same units, and a ratio of
masses is what is significant.

16.(a) The impulse is the change in momentum. The direction of travel of the struck ball is the positive direction.
Dp = mDu = (4.5 ´10-2 kg)(38 m/s - 0) = 1.71 kg × m/s » 1.7 kg × m/s
(b) The average force is the impulse divided by the interaction time.
Dp 1.71 kg × m/s
F= = = 490 N
Dt 3.5 ´10-3 s

17. (a) The impulse given to the nail is the opposite of the impulse given to the hammer. This is the change
in momentum. Call the direction of the initial velocity of the hammer the positive direction.

Dpnail = -Dphammer = [muinitial - mufinal ]hammer = (12 kg)(7.5 m/s) - 0 = 9.0 ´101 kg × m/s
(b) The average force is the impulse divided by the time of contact.
Dp 9.0 ´101 kg × m/s
Favg = = = 1.1´104 N
Dt 8.0 ´10-3 s

37. Use conservation of momentum in one dimension. Call the direction of the sports car’s velocity the
positive x direction. Let A represent the sports car and B represent the SUV. We have u B = 0 and
uA¢ = u B¢ . Solve for u A . The initial velocity of the sports car can thus be found:
mA + mB
pinitial = pfinal ® mAuA + 0 = (mA + mB )uA
¢ ® uA = uA¢
mA
FOR LATER (after the test):

The kinetic energy that the cars have immediately after the collision is lost due to negative work done by
friction. The work done by friction can also be calculated using the definition of work. We assume the cars
are on a level surface, so that the normal force is equal to the weight. The distance the cars slide forward is
Dx. Equate the two expressions for the work done by friction, solve for u A¢ , and use that to find u A .
Wfr = ( KE final - KE initial )after = 0 - 12 (mA + mB )u A
¢2
collision
Wfr = Ffr Dx cos 180° = - mk (mA + mB )gDx
- 12 (mA + mB )uA
¢ 2 = - mk (mA + mB )gDx ® u A
¢ = 2 mk gDx
mA + mB m + mB 980 kg + 2300 kg
uA = uA¢ = A 2 mk gDx = 2(0.80)(9.80 m/s2 )(2.6 m)
mA mA 980 kg
= 21.37 m/s » 21 m/s

INCLUDED IN CHALLENGING PROBLEMS SET FOR THE TEST:

38. The impulse on the ball is its change in momentum. Call upward the positive direction, so that the final
velocity is positive and the initial velocity is negative. The speeds immediately before and immediately
after the collision can be found from conservation of energy. Take the floor to be the zero level for
gravitational potential energy.

Falling: KE bottom = PE top ® 1 mu 2

2 down = mghdown ® udown = - 2ghdown
= PE top ® 1 mu 2 = mgh u up = 2ghup
Rising: KE bottom
2 up up ®

Impulse = Dp = mDu = m(u up - udown ) = m ( 2ghup - - 2ghdown = m 2g ) ( hup + hdown )

= (0.014 kg) 2(9.80 m/s 2 ) ( )
0.85 m + 1.5 m = 0.13 kg × m/s

REMEMEBR: IMPULSE is always doubled or more when something bounces back. It is like A – (-B) =
A + B for the velocity change!

The direction of the impulse is upwards, so the complete specification of the impulse is
0.13 kg ×m/s, upward .

1 m u 2 - 1 m u¢2
KE initial - KE final uA2 - u B¢ 2 (38 m/s)2 - (15 m/s)2
39. Fraction KE lost = = 2 A A 2 B B
= = = 0.84
KE initial 1 m u2 uA2 (38 m/s)2
2 A A