Elastic and Inelastic Collisions Virtual Lab
Click on the link - http://www.physicslessons.com/exp5b.htm to complete this activity.
Objective: To investigate elastic and inelastic collisions
Procedure:
1. Drag the RED Block to the '0' mark on the ruler & drag the GREEN Block to the '3' mark for all
experiments then click on “Go” to start the simulations. Click on “Stop” when the blocks are at the end of
the ruler.
2. Click on the Green tab on the Momentum Values box to see the final velocities.
3. If you are working with Elastic Collisions, set the “e” value at 1.
4. If you are working with Inelastic Collisions, set the “e” value at 0.
Part 1: Elastic Collisions
1. Set the values & click on GO then observe what happens after the collision
2. Record your observations about the velocities for each mass.
Case I -- Elastic Collision
m 1 = m2
m1 = 1.5 kg m2 = 1.5 kg
v1 = 4 m/sec v2 = 0 m/sec
What happens to Mass 1 (RED)?
What happens to Mass 2 (GREEN)?
Case II -- Elastic Collision
m1 > m2
m1 = 3 kg m2 = 1 kg
v1 = 4 m/sec v2 = 0 m/sec
What happens to Mass 1 (RED)?
What happens to Mass 2 (GREEN)?
A. ELASTIC COLLISIONS – QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS:
1. Find the values for the FINAL VELOCITIES (v 1' and v 2') of each block
2. Record the values on the tables. Calculate the momentum and kinetic energy for each.
Elastic Case 1:
RED BLOCK
m1 = 3 kg
v1 = 5 m/s
Initial Momentum =
GREEN BLOCK
m2 = 2 kg
v2 = 0 m/s
Initial Momentum =
Initial KE =
Initial KE =
v1’=
v2’=
Final Momentum =
Final Momentum =
Final KE =
Final KE =
Was momentum conserved? ____________
Was KE conserved? ______________
Elastic Case II
RED BLOCK
m1 = 3 kg
v1 = 5 m/s
Initial Momentum =
GREEN BLOCK
m2 = 2 kg
v2 = -4 m/s
Initial Momentum =
Initial KE =
v1’=
Initial KE =
v2’=
Final Momentum =
Final Momentum =
Final KE =
Final KE =
Was momentum conserved? ____________
Was KE conserved? ______________
B. INELASTIC COLLISIONS – QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS:
C. FOR EACH CASE:
1. Find the values for the FINAL VELOCITIES (v 12' and v 2') of each block
2. Record the values on the tables and calculate the momentum and kinetic energy of each.
Inelastic Case I
RED BLOCK
m1 = 3 kg
v1 = 5 m/s
Initial Momentum =
GREEN BLOCK
m2 = 2 kg
v2 = 0 m/s
Initial Momentum =
Initial KE =
v1’=
Initial KE =
v2’
Final Momentum =
Final Momentum =
Final KE =
Final KE =
Was momentum conserved? ____________
Was KE conserved? ______________
Inelastic Case II
RED BLOCK
m1 = 3 kg
v1 = 5 m/s
Initial Momentum =
GREEN BLOCK
m2 = 2 kg
v2 = -4 m/s
Initial Momentum =
Initial KE =
v1’=
Initial KE =
v2’=
Final Momentum =
Final Momentum =
Final KE =
Final KE =
Was momentum conserved? ____________
Was KE conserved ?______________