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Inelastic Collisions Physics Classroom
College Physics I (PHYS 1401 )
Lone Star College System
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From The Physics Classroom’s Physics Interactives physicsclassroom
©The Physics Classroom, All Rights Reserved This document should NOT appear on other websites.
Inelastic Collisions
Purpose: To gather evidence that can be used to support a claim that total system momentum is or is not conserved in an inelastic collision.
Background : The objects involved in a collision are often considered as a system. Provided that the system of two objects is not experiencing a net external impulse, there would be no change in momentum of the system. If one object within the system loses momentum, it is gained by the other object within the system. The combined momentum of both objects would be conserved.
Getting Ready: Navigate to the Collision Carts Interactive in the Physics Interactives section of The Physics Classroom website:
physicsclassroom/Physics-Interactives/Momentum-and-Collisions/Collision-Carts
Path: physicsclassroom => Physics Interactives => Momentum and Collisions => Collision Carts
Once the Interactive opens, resize it as desired. Select the Inelastic Collisions option. Experiment with changing the Mass and the Initial Velocity of the two carts. Observe how the position of the carts along the track can be changed by dragging. Learn to Start , Pause , and Reset the animation.
Collision 1: Blue Cart Initially at Rest Set the initial blue cart velocity to 0 m/s. Set the mass values to different values. Run the simulation and record the mass and velocity values.
Before Collision After Collision
nullmRed = _________ kg mBlue = _________ kg
Use mass and velocity values to complete the following momentum table.
Before Collision After Collision ∆Momentum
Red Cart
________kg x _______m/s
= ____________kg•m/s
________kg x _______m/s
= ____________kg•m/s
Blue Cart
________kg x _______m/s
= ____________kg•m/s
________kg x _______m/s
= ____________kg•m/s
System Total
v = ___________ m/s 6 v = ___________ m/s
1
2
2
1 6 1 2
2 0 2 2
04
6 2 -4 kg m/s
4 kg m/s
6 kg m/s 6 kg m/s 0 kg m/s
From The Physics Classroom’s Physics Interactives physicsclassroom
©The Physics Classroom, All Rights Reserved This document should NOT appear on other websites.
Collision 2: Blue Cart Moving Slower than the Red Cart Set the initial blue cart velocity to less than the red cart velocity. Position the blue cart in the middle of the track. Use different mass values. Run the simulation and record the mass and velocity values.
Before Collision After Collision
nullmRed = _________ kg mBlue = _________ kg
Use mass and velocity values to complete the following momentum table.
Before Collision After Collision ∆Momentum
Red Cart
________kg x _______m/s
= ____________kg•m/s
________kg x _______m/s
= ____________kg•m/s
Blue Cart
________kg x _______m/s
= ____________kg•m/s
________kg x _______m/s
= ____________kg•m/s
System Total
Conclusion Make a Claim as to whether momentum is conserved or not conserved. Identify the Evidence that provides support for your claim; refer to specific sets of values in each data table that serve as credible evidence. Write a paragraph or more of sound Reasoning to argue why the evidence logically lead to the claim you are making. Write well. Write logically. Write thoroughly. Use a separate page of paper if necessary.
v = ___________ m/s v = ___________ m/s v = ___________ m/s
21
6 3 5
22
11
6 5
3 5
35
12 10
-2 kg m/s
2 kg m/s
15 kg m/s 15 kg m/s
0 kg m/s
The momentum is conserved because when the collision occurs the momentum from the red car transfers to the blue car and absorbs the impact. The system total for the momentum equals 0 kg m/s which occurs due to the collision.
Inelastic Collisions Physics Classroom
Course: College Physics I (PHYS 1401 )
University: Lone Star College System
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