Direct and Oblique Impact
Note that, in writing these equations, we have taken care to write the change in momentum in the same direction as the impulse. The time for the deformation is taken as t0 and the total time of the contact is t. Eliminating V0 between the two expression for e gives us
Do you know, what is the value of V0 ? It can be found easily by applying the law of conservation of momentum.
m1V1+ m2V1= ( m1+ m2 )V0
Thus V0= ( m1V1+m2V2 ) / ( m1+m2 )
The value e=1 means that the capacity of the two particle to recover equals the tendency to deform. This condition is one of elastic impact with no energy loss. Let us find out the kinetic energy before and after impact for an elastic impact.
Momentum Conservation:
