what will happen if two objects collide in space?

Question

Object A slams into object B (at rest) what will object b's speed be after and will there be any difference in object a's speed after the collision?

Answer 1

If the objects are perfectly elastic (that is they don't deform), then you can use the laws of conservation of momentum and conservation of energy to solve the problem. If they (or one of them is) are plastic...that is they deform during the collision, then conservation of momentum still applies, but it is more difficult to use conservation of energy unless you know how energy is lost in the deformation process.

I don't mean that to sound complicated, but that's it in a nutshell.

Answer 2

It will depend on the mass of both objects. If a dust mote crashes into Earth nothing happens because Earth is so much larger than a dust mote. But if the Moon crashes into the Earth, then the Earth's orbit around the Sun may be altered.

Answer 3

um..boom!


No seriously.
You left out way too many variables. The weight of A and B. The speed of A. What each are made of....

Answer 4

if mass of A > mass of B then
speed of A decrease but it is in the direction before collision.
B moves in the same direction .

if mass of A < mass of B then
A will come back (moves in reverse direction) and its speed reduce.
B moves in the apposite direction of A

if mass of A = mass of B then
A will stop
B moves in the same direction and speed of A

Answer 5

Momentum (linear and rotational) will be conserved. Total energy (potential, kinetic, and thermal) will be conserved.

Other than that, who knows?


Doug

Answer 6

Uh, we need to know the speed of object A, and the mass of both objects. DUH!!!!!!!!!!!