Question

High-speed stroboscopic photographs show that the head of a -g golf club is traveling at m/s just before it strikes a -g golf ball at rest on a tee. After the collision, the club head travels (in the same direction) at m/s. Find the speed of the golf ball just after impact.

Answer 1

The question is incomplete. The complete question is :

High-speed stroboscopic photographs show that the head of a 200 g golf club is traveling at 60 m/s just before it strikes a  50 g golf ball at rest on a tee. After the collision, the club head travels (in the same direction) at 40 m/s. Find the speed of the golf ball just after impact.

Solution :

We know that momentum = mass x velocity

The momentum of the golf club before impact = 0.200 x 60

                                                                             = 12 kg m/s

The momentum of the ball before impact is zero. So the total momentum before he impact is 12 kg m/s. Therefore, due to the conservation of momentum of the two bodies after the impact is 12 kg m/s.

Now the momentum of the club after the impact is = 0.2 x 40

                                                                                    = 8 kg m/s

Therefore the momentum of the ball is = 12 - 8

                                                                = 4 kg m/s

We know momentum of the ball, p = mass x velocity

                                                     4 = 0.050 x velocity

∴ Velocity =  $\frac{4}{0.050}$

                 = 80 m/s

Hence the speed of the golf ball after the impact is 80 m/s.