PhET Collision Lab In this lab activity we will explore the law of conservation of momentum by looking at different collision scenarios Click on the link Collision Lab PHET To begin, select the Introduction tab (shown above) and familiarize yourself with the simulation parameters Now select the Explore ID tab and make sure you have the More Data button selected, so that you can read the values of velocities and momenta, as shown below 05m 0.00 s Normal Slow More Data Mass (kg) Position (m) Velocity (m/s) Momentum (kg m/s) Px 0.50 -1.00 1.00 0.50 1,50 1.00 -0.50 -0.75 Part 1: Elastic collision between equal masses. . Select two equal masses. The value is irrelevant, as long as they are the same Elasticity 100% Inelastic Elastic Set the elastic to its maximum value . Set the simulation in motion and record the values in the table below In the third row, sum the momentum before and after Do not enter anything in the greyed out cells Mass Velocity Before Momentum Velocity After Momentum After Change in Before Momentum 2 Tot 1. What can you conclude about the change in momentum before and after the collision? Are they related? Should they? Is the total momentum before (the first entry in the third row) related to the total momentum after? Should they? 3, What is the sum in the last cell of the third row? Can you justify your answer with the Law of Conservation of Momentum learned in class? Part 2: Elastic collision with unequal masses. . Repeat the same steps as in part 1, but now with two unequal masses. Make your own table for the values like the one made above (You can just copy and paste it) I What can you conclude about the change in momentum before and after the collision? Are they related? Should they? 2. Is the total momentum before (the first entry in the third row) related to the total momentum after? Should they? 3. What is the sum in the last cell of the third row? Can you justify your answer with the Law of Conservation of Momentum learned in class? Does the fact that the masses are different change the relationships between the quantities? Part 3: Different Scenarios. Create 3 more distinct scenarios in 1-d including one totally inelastic collision To make a totally inelastic collision slide the Elasticity button to the 0%. Include tables with data in each scenario. For each scenario answer the questions 1 through 3 that you answered in the previous parts. If done correctly, this simulation should convince you that the law of conservation of momentum holds for any type of collision
