Collisions Lab

Advanced Physics
Go to http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/legacy/collision-lab. Stay on the introduction tab.
In this lab we will analyze what happens when two objects collide. We will analyze the motion of
two objects before the collision and two objects after the collision. We will then look for any
patterns that we may find.
First make sure that you click on more data below the graph and then make sure that the
collision is completely 100% elastic. Use the data below to fill in the table and run the
simulations.
1.

Red Sphere

Trial

Mass
(kg)

1
2
3
4
5
6

0.5
0.5
0.5
3.0
3.0
3.0

Initial
Velocity
(m/s)
1.0
1.0
4.0
1.0
1.0
4.0

Initial
Momentum
(kg*m/s)
.5
.5
2
3
3
12

Initial
Kinetic
Energy (J)
.25
.25
4
1.5
1.5
24

Final
Velocity
(m/s)
0
-2
-2
.71
.43
3

Final
Momentum
(kg*m/s)
0
-2
-1
2.14
1.29
9

Final
Kinetic
Energy (J)
0
1
1
.76
2.5
13.5

Final
Velocity
(m/s)
1
1
4
1.71
2.43
5

Final
Momentum
(kg*m/s)
.5
.5
2
.86
1.21
5

Final
Kinetic
energy (J)
.25
.25
16
.73
8.86
12.5

Green Sphere
Trial

Mass
(kg)

1
2
3
4
5
6

0.5
0.5
2.0
0.5
3.0
1.0

Initial
Velocity
(m/s)
0
-2.0
0
0
-1.0
2.0

Initial
Momentum
(kg*m/s)
0
-1
0
0
-3
2

Initial
Kinetic
Energy (J)
0
1
0
0
1.5
2

2. Using the information for the tables above fill in the information below.
Trial Red Sphere
Momentum
Before
(kg*m/s)
1
2
3
4
5
6

.5
.5
2
3
3
12

Green
Sphere
Momentum
Before
(kg*m/s)
0
-1
0
0
-3
2

Total
Momentum
of System
Before
(kg*m/s)
.5
.5
2
3
0
12

Red Sphere
Momentum
After
(kg*m/s)
0
-2
-1
2.14
1.29
9

Green
Sphere
Momentum
After
(kg*m/s)
.5
.5
2
.86
1.21
5

Total
Momentum
of System
After
(kg*m/s)
.5
-1.5
1
3
2.5
14

3. What do you notice about the total momentum before the collision and the total momentum
after the collision?
total momentum is the same

Trial

Red Sphere
Kinetic
Energy
Before

1
2
3
4
5
6

.25
.25
4
1.5
1.5
24

Green
Sphere
Kinetic
Energy
Before
0
1
0
0
1.5
2

Total
Kinetic
Energy of
System
Before
.25
1.25
4
1.5
3
26

Red Sphere
Kinetic
Energy
After
0
1
1
.76
2.5
13.5

Green
Sphere
Kinetic
Energy
After
.25
.25
16
.73
8.86
12.5

Total
Kinetic
Energy of
System
After
,25
1.25
17
1.5
11.36
26

What do you notice about the total kinetic energy before the collision compared to the total
kinetic energy after the collision?
they are the same at the beginning and at the end

Now change the collision to inelastic (0% eleastic). Run the trials below.

4.

Red Sphere

Trial

Mass
(kg)

1
2
3
4
5
6

2.0
2.0
2.0
4.0
4.0
4.0

Initial
Velocity
(m/s)
1.0
1.0
4.0
1.0
1.0
4.0

Initial
Momentum
(kg*m/s)
2
2
8
4
4
16

Initial
Kinetic
energy (J)
1
1
16
2
2
32

Final
Velocity
(m/s)
.5
-.5
1.14
.8
0
1

Final
Momentum
(kg*m/s)
1
-1
2.29
3.2
0
4

Final
Kinetic
Energy (J)
.5
.5
4.57
1.6
.01
4

Final
Velocity
(m/s)
.5
-.5
1.14
.8
.01
4

Final
Momentum
(kg*m/s)
1
-1
5.71
.8
.01
4

Final
Kinetic
energy (J)
.5
.5
4.57
1.6
.01
4

Green Sphere
Trial

Mass
(kg)

1
2
3
4
5
6

2.0
2.0
5.0
1.0
4.0
4.0

Initial
Velocity
(m/s)
0
-2.0
0
0
-1.0
-2.0

Initial
Momentum
(kg*m/s)
0
-4
0
0
-4
-8

Initial
Kinetic
Energy (J)
0
-2
0
0
-2
-8

5. Using the information for the tables above fill in the information below.
Trial

Red Sphere
Momentum
Before
(kg*m/s)

1
2
3
4
5
6

2
2
8
4
4
16

Green
Sphere
Momentum
Before
(kg*m/s)
0
-4
0
0
-4
-8

Total
Momentum
of System
Before
(kg*m/s)
2
-2
8
4
0
8

Red Sphere
Momentum
After
(kg*m/s)
1
-1
2.29
3.2
0
4

Green
Total
Sphere
Momentum
Momentum of System
After
After
(kg*m/s)
(kg*m/s)
1
2
-1
-2
5.71
8
.8
4
.01
0
4
8

7. How does the total momentum before the collision compare to the total momentum after the
collision?
same at the beginning as the end

Trial

Red Sphere
Kinetic
Energy
Before (J)

1
2
3
4
5
6

.25
.25
4
1.5
1.5
24

Green
Sphere
Kinetic
Energy
Before (J)
0
1
0
0
1.5
2

Total
Kinetic
Energy of
System
Before (J)
.25
1.25
4
1.5
3
26

Red Sphere
Kinetic
Energy
After
(J)
0
1
1
.76
2.5
13.5

Green
Sphere
Kinetic
Energy
After (J)
.25
.25
16
.73
8.86
12.5

Total
Kinetic
Energy of
System
After (J)
,25
1.25
17
1.5
11.36
26

What do you notice about the total kinetic energy before the collision compared to the total
kinetic energy after the collision?

How are perfectly elastic collisions different from perfectly inelastic collisions?

8. This time change the elasticity to 60%. This means the collision is partially elastic and partial
inelastic. Record your values in the table below.
Red Sphere

Trial

Mass
(kg)

1
2
3
4
5
6

2.0
2.0
2.0
4.0
4.0
4.0

Initial
Velocity
(m/s)
1.0
1.0
4.0
1.0
1.0
4.0

Initial
Momentum
(kg*m/s)
2
2
8
4
4
16

Initial
Kinetic
Energy (J)
1
1
16
2
2
32

Final
Velocity
(m/s)
2
-1.4
1.71
.68
-.6
-.8

Final
Momentum
(kg*m/s)
.4
-2.8
3.43
2.72
-2.4
-3.2

Final
Kinetic
energy (J)
.04
1.96
2.92
.92
.72
1.28

Final
Velocity
(m/s)
.8
.4
2.91
1.28
.6
2.8

Final
Momentum
(kg*m/s)
1.6
.8
14.57
1.28
2.4
11.2

Final
Kinetic
Energy (J)
.64
.16
21.2
.82
.72
15.7

Green Sphere
Trial

Mass
(kg)

1
2
3
4
5
6

2.0
2.0
5.0
1.0
4.0
4.0

Initial
Velocity
(m/s)
0
-2.0
2.0
0
-1.0
-2.0

Initial
Momentum
(kg*m/s)
0
-4
10
0
-4
-8

Initial
Kinetic
Energy (J)
0
4
10
2
8

9. Using the information for the tables above fill in the information below.
Trial

Red Sphere
Momentum
Before
(kg*m/s)

1
2
3
4
5
6

2
2
8
4
4
16

Green
Sphere
Momentum
Before
(kg*m/s)
0
-4
0
0
-4
-8

Total
Momentum
of System
Before
(kg*m/s)
2
-2
8
4
0
8

Red Sphere
Momentum
After
(kg*m/s)
1
-1
2.29
3.2
0
4

Green
Sphere
Momentum
After
(kg*m/s)
1
-1
5.71
.8
.01
4

Total
Momentum
of System
After
(kg*m/s)
2
-2
8
4
0
8

Trial

Red Sphere
Kinetic
Energy
Before (J)

1
2
3
4
5
6

.25
.25
4
1.5
1.5
24

Green
Sphere
Kinetic
Energy
Before (J)
0
1
0
0
1.5
2

Total
Kinetic
Energy of
System
Before (J)
.25
1.25
4
1.5
3
26

Red Sphere
Kinetic
Energy
After
(J)
0
1
1
.76
2.5
13.5

Green
Sphere
Kinetic
Energy
After (J)
.25
.25
16
.73
8.86
12.5

Total
Kinetic
Energy of
System
After (J)
,25
1.25
17
1.5
11.36
26

How does the total energy of the system before compare to the total energy of the system after?
They gain energy

10. There is a law in physics called the Law of Conservation of Momentum. Look this law up in
your physics book. Write the law below and determine if the data in this experiment helps
support this law or not.
total momentum does not change, yes it does

11. Describe the differences between perfectly elastic, perfectly inelastic, and partially elastic
collisions in terms of energy. perfect elastic has higher number, inelastic has lower