A Photograph of the Two-Dimensional Elastic Collision of Two Particles

Multiple Choice

A photograph of the two-dimensional elastic collision of two particles shows a particle of mass m₁ approaching a stationary particle of mass m₂. As a result of their interaction, the incident particle moves away along a line that makes an angle of 30° with its original path, and the other particle moves away along a line that makes an angle of 30° to the other side of the original path of the incident particle. What is the ratio of the masses, m₁/m₂?

A) 0.5
B) 1
C) 2
D) 3
E) 4