9231 P31 - Nov 2020 - Q6 - 10 marks
Two smooth spheres \(A\) and \(B\) have equal radii and masses \(m\) and \(2 m\) respectively. Sphere \(B\) is at rest on a smooth horizontal floor. Sphere \(A\) is moving on the floor with velocity \(u\) and collides directly with \(B\). The coefficient of restitution between the spheres is \(e\).
(a) Find, in terms of \(u\) and \(e\), the velocities of \(A\) and \(B\) after the collision.
Subsequently, \(B\) collides with a fixed vertical wall which makes an angle \(\theta\) with the direction of motion of \(B\), where \(\tan \theta=\frac{3}{4}\).
The coefficient of restitution between \(B\) and the wall is \(\frac{2}{3}\). Immediately after \(B\) collides with the wall, the kinetic energy of \(A\) is \(\frac{5}{32}\) of the kinetic energy of \(B\).
(b) Find the possible values of \(e\).