Let m₁ and m₂ be the masses of the two objects, and v₁ and v₂ their initial velocities. So
m₁ = 30.0 g = 0.0300 kg
m₂ = 13.0 g = 0.0130 kg
v₁ = + 20.5 cm/s = 0.205 m/s
v₂ = + 15.0 cm/s = 0.150 m/s
and we want to find v₁' and v₂', the final velocities of either object after their collision.
Momentum is conserved throughout the objects' collision, so that
m₁v₁ + m₂v₂ = m₁v₁' + m₂v₂'
where v₁' and v₂' are the first and second object's velocities after the collision.
Kinetic energy is also conserved, so that
1/2 m₁v₁² + 1/2 m₂v₂² = 1/2 m₁(v₁')² + 1/2 m₂(v₂')²
or
m₁v₁² + m₂v₂² = m₁(v₁')² + m₂(v₂')²
From the first equation (omitting units), we have
0.0300 • 0.205 + 0.0130 • 0.150 = 0.0300 v₁' + 0.0130 v₂'
0.0810 = 0.0300 v₁' + 0.0130 v₂'
81 = 30 v₁' + 13 v₂'
From the second equation,
0.0300 • 0.205² + 0.0130 • 0.150² = 0.0300 (v₁')² + 0.0130 (v₂')²
0.00155 ≈ 0.0300 (v₁')² + 0.0130 (v₂')²
1.55 ≈ 30 (v₁')² + 13 (v₂')²
Solving both equations simultaneously gives two solutions, one of which corresponds to the initial conditions. The other yields
v₁' ≈ + 0.172 m/s
and
v₂' ≈ + 0.227 m/s
