Activity 5 - Conservation of Linear Momentum

Activity 6: Linear Momentum using Phet Simulation
___________________________________________________________________________
Student Name: __________________________________ Group No.: ___________
Objectives:
1) To study the types of Collision in one dimension between two balls by using PHET
Simulation.
2) To determine the kinetic Energy and the linear momentum of each ball before and after
the collision.
3) To conclude the main difference between the elastic collision and the inelastic collision.
Apparatus: Two balls, timer and meter scale.
Theory and Background:
d Ṕ
The general formula of Newton’s Second Law is F́ ext = where F´ext is the external
dt
force acting on the object, Ṕ is the linear momentum of the object and t is the time, when the
external force equal to zero the linear momentum becomes constant because dP=0, so the
linear momentum is conserved regardless to the type of collision.
Part 1: Elastic Collision – a (m1=m2):

1) Click on the following link from PHET Colorado Simulation.
https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/collision-lab/collision-lab_en.html
2) Click on
more
data to
see more
options.
1
3) Select (Elasticity 100%) by dragging the blue triangle (Δ) to the right) to the right
4) Select: m1=m2 = 2kg
5) Select: *position 1 (1m) and *position 2 (2m)
6) Select: *v1i=2.00m/s and *v2i=0 as shown below:
Step 3
Steps: 4 5 6
7) This collision will take place between red ball (m1) and green ball (m2) of the equal
masses (m1=m2=2kg), with (m2) initially at rest (v2i=0). The red ball (m1) will collide (m2)
and essentially stops, then (m2) will move in the same direction of (m1) before collision.
8) Click on Play, then after collision Pause.
9) Record the values of v1f and v2f after collision in table 1.
10) Calculate the values of Pi, Pf, Pf/Pi, Ki, Kf and Kf/Ki and record them in table 1.
Table 1
V1i V2i V1f V2f Pi = Pf = m2v2f Pf/Pi Ki = Kf = Kf/Ki

m1v1i (1/2)m1v1i2 (1/2)m2v2f2
(m/s) (m/s) (m/s) (m/s) (kg.m/s)
(kg.m/s) (J) (J)
2.00 0
2.50 0
3.00 0
11) Repeat the experiment for two different values of v1i (2.50 m/s) and (3.00 m/s), keep v2i =
0 and repeat the steps 8 to 10 and record the values into table 1.
What have you observed from the activity?

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
2
Part 1: Elastic Collision – b (m1≠m2):
1) Use the same link from PHET Colorado Simulation.
2) KEEP: (Elasticity 100%) by dragging the blue triangle (Δ) to the right) to the right
3) Select: m1 = 3kg and m2 = 2kg
4) KEEP: *position 1 (1m) and *position 2 (2m)
5) Select: *v1i=2.00m/s and *v2i=0.5m/s
6) Click on
Play, then after collision Pause.
7) Record the values of v1f and v2f after collision into tables 2 & 3.
8) Calculate the values of Pi, Pf, Pf/Pi, Ki, Kf and Kf/Ki and record them into tables 2 & 3.
9) Repeat the experiment for other three different values of v1i and v2i as mentioned in the
tables 2 & 3, and record the values into tables 2 & 3.
Table 2
V1i V2i V1f V2f Pi = m1v1i + m2v2i Pf = m1v1f + m2v2f Pf/Pi

(m/s) (m/s) (m/s) (m/s) (kg.m/s) (kg.m/s)
2.00 0.50
2.50 0.75
3.00 1.00
4.00 1.25
3
Table 3
V1i V2i V1f V2f Ki = (0.5m1v1i2) + Kf = (0.5m1v1f2) + Kf/Ki

(0.5m2v2i2) (0.5m2v2f2)
(m/s) (m/s) (m/s) (m/s)
(J) (J)
2.00 0.50
2.50 0.75
3.00 1.00
4.00 1.25
Part 2: Inelastic Collision:

1) Use the same link from PHET Colorado Simulation.
2) CHANGE: Elasticity to 0% by dragging the blue triangle (Δ) to the right) to the left
3) Select: m1 = 3kg and m2 = 2kg
4) KEEP: *position 1 (1m) and *position 2 (2m)
5) Select: *v1i=2.00m/s and *v2i=0
Step 2
Steps : 3 4 5
6) Click on Play, then after collision Pause

7) Record the value of vf into tables 4 & 5.
8) Calculate the values of Pi, Pf, Pf/Pi, Ki, Kf and Kf/Ki and record them into tables 4 & 5.
9) Repeat the experiment for other three different values of v1i and KEEP v2i = 0 as shown
in the tables 4 & 5and record the values into tables 4 & 5.
4
Table 4
V1i V2i Vf Pi = m1v1i Pf = (m1+m2)vf Pf/Pi

(m/s) (m/s) (m/s) (kg.m/s) (kg.m/s)
2.00 0
2.50 0
3.00 0
3.50 0
Table 5
V1i V2i Vf Ki = (0.5m1v1i2) Kf = 0.5(m1+m2) Kf/Ki

vf2
(m/s) (m/s) (m/s) (J)
(J)
2.00 0
2.50 0
3.00 0
3.50 0
Questions & Conclusion:
1- What is the difference between elastic and inelastic collision?
2- Conclusion:
This Lab activity is adapted from the Department of Applied Physics , College of
Sciences, University of Sharjah

Activity 5 - Conservation of Linear Momentum

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Activity 6: Linear Momentum using Phet Simulation

Apparatus: Two balls, timer and meter scale.

Theory and Background:

Part 1: Elastic Collision – a (m1=m2):

V1i V2i V1f V2f Pi = Pf = m2v2f Pf/Pi Ki = Kf = Kf/Ki

What have you observed from the activity?

V1i V2i V1f V2f Pi = m1v1i + m2v2i Pf = m1v1f + m2v2f Pf/Pi

V1i V2i V1f V2f Ki = (0.5m1v1i2) + Kf = (0.5m1v1f2) + Kf/Ki

Part 2: Inelastic Collision:

6) Click on Play, then after collision Pause

V1i V2i Vf Pi = m1v1i Pf = (m1+m2)vf Pf/Pi

V1i V2i Vf Ki = (0.5m1v1i2) Kf = 0.5(m1+m2) Kf/Ki

Questions & Conclusion:

1- What is the difference between elastic and inelastic collision?

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