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AP Physics C: Mechanics
4.4 Elastic and Inelastic Collisions
4.3 Conservation of Linear Momentum
AdvancedMCQMathematical14.3k
Initial setup of three spheres on a frictionless horizontal track.
Initial setup of three spheres on a frictionless horizontal track.
Three small spheres, labeled 1, 2, and 3, are aligned along a straight, frictionless horizontal track. Sphere 1 has mass \(m\), sphere 2 has mass \(2m\), and sphere 3 has mass \(m\). Initially, spheres 2 and 3 are at rest. Sphere 1 is launched toward sphere 2 with an initial speed \(v_0\). All collisions are head-on and perfectly elastic. After all collisions have taken place, which of the following correctly ranks the final speeds \(v_1\), \(v_2\), and \(v_3\) of the spheres?

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