Name______________________ Pd____

Collision PHET Lab

Introduction and Set Up:
Go to Phet and find collision lab or type in http://tiny.cc/collision For the following lab we will be working under the advanced tab. In the box to the right check the following boxes: 1 Dimension Velocity Vectors Momentum Vectors Momenta Diagram Kinetic Energy Show Values Elasticity 100% For the box at the bottom select more data 1: Elastic Collisions For this part of the lab we will be looking at elastic collisions. Watch want happens with the simulation and record your observations. Collision 1: Keep the mass and velocities the same as the presets. Mass of object 1 Mass of object 2 0.5 kg 1.5kg initial v of 1 = initial v of 2 = 1.0 m/s -0.5 m/s initial p of 1 = 0.5 kg m/s

initial p of 2 = 0.75 kg m/s Total initial p

START COLLISION final v of 1 = final v of 2 = final p of 1 = final p of 2 = Total final p

Collision 2: Increases the masses and decrease the velocities for each of your objects and run the simulation Mass of object 1 Mass of object 2 initial v of 1 = initial v of 2 = initial p of 1 = initial p of 2 = Total initial p START COLLISION final v of 1 = final v of 2 = final p of 1 = final p of 2 =

Collision 3: Decreases the masses and increase the velocities for each of your objects and run the simulation

Mass of object 1 Mass of object 2

initial v of 1 = initial v of 2 =

initial p of 1 = initial p of 2 = Total initial p

START COLLISION final v of 1 = final v of 2 = final p of 1 = final p of 2 = Total final p

2: Inelastic Collisions For this part of the lab we will be looking at inelastic collisions. Keep the check boxes the same for this portion of the lab. Shift the elasticity bar (or type in new values). ANY NUMBER BUT 1.00 or 0.00 will be fine. When you run, I want you too record the following for pre and post collision. You have full choice as to your masses and initial velocities. Also, watch the TOTAL momentum arrow (the red one in Momenta box) Experiment 1 Mass of object 1 Mass of object 2 Elasticity = START COLLISION Mass of object 1 Mass of object 2 final v of 1 = final v of 2 = final p of 1 = final p of 2 = Total final p= initial v of 1 = initial v of 2 = initial p of 1 = initial p of 2 = Total initial p=

Did total momentum arrow change? Yes/no

Experiment 2: Pick a new non-zero, non-1.00 elasticity and run again Mass of object 1 Mass of object 2 Elasticity = START COLLISION Mass of object 1 Mass of object 2 final v of 1 = final v of 2 = final p of 1 = final p of 2 = Total final p= initial v of 1 = initial v of 2 = initial p of 1 = initial p of 2 = Total initial p=

Did total momentum arrow change? Yes/no

Experiment 3: Now set Elasticity to exactly 0.00 Mass of object 1 Mass of object 2 Elasticity = START COLLISION Mass of object 1 Mass of object 2 final v of 1 = final v of 2 = final p of 1 = final p of 2 = Total final p= initial v of 1 = initial v of 2 = initial p of 1 = initial p of 2 = Total initial p=

Did total momentum arrow change? Yes/no

Post-Lab Questions
1. What do you think the law of conservation of momentum is?

2. What is an elastic collision?

3. What is an inelastic collision?

4. Why is kinetic energy not conserved?

5. Does the law of conservation of energy still apply?

6. If a cue ball has a mass of 1kg and a velocity of 3m/s, what is its initial momentum?

7. If that cue ball then hits a 2kg 9-ball in an elastic collision, what will the total final momentum be?