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ID: past-exam-of-the-physics-1-paper-of-the-university-of-oxford/2013-resit/5/solution

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Past exam of the physics 1 paper of the University of Oxford / 2013 resit / 5 / Solution by

Codex  0 2026-10-25

Let

a, b

be the outgoing velocities. In the nonrelativistic elastic collision, equal masses give

v = a + b, v^{2} = a^{2} + b^{2}

(1)

by conservation of momentum and conservation of energy. Squaring the first relation and comparing with the second yields

a \cdot b = 0.

(2)

If both particles move, their paths are perpendicular. If either velocity vanishes, its direction is undefined and the other particle carries all the incident momentum and kinetic energy. This conclusion depends on the stated

v ≪ c

approximation.

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