Question

Two bodies make an elastic head-on collision on a smooth horizontal table kept in a car. Do you expect a change in the result if the car is accelerated in a horizontal road because of the non inertial character of the frame? Does the equation Velocity of separation = Velocity of approach" remain valid in an accelerating car? Does the equation "final momentum = initial momentum" remain valid in the accelerating car?"

Answer 1

Answer:

No

Explanation:

No, due to the non-inertial character of the frame and the presence of a pseudo force, both the equations, i.e., Velocity of separation = Velocity of approach and Final momentum = Initial momentum, do not remain valid in the accelerating car

Answer 2

Explanation:

• Yes, as the experiment’s consequence, we can assume a change. From the car’s reference frame, if we see at the motion, the two bodies involve a pseudo force opposite to the car’s motion’s direction.
• Now as on the two bodies, there is a net non-zero force, the two-body system’s momentum is not preserved.
• So, final momentum = initial momentum is invalid.  
• Also, since the two-body system’s momentum is not preserved, “Velocity of separation = Velocity of approach” is not valid.