Elastic and Inelastic
Collisions
Balls on a billiard table exhibit collisions that are nearly elastic. Colliding blobs of putty
would exhibit perfectly inelastic collisions. Much of the energy in such a collision is
converted to internal vibrations or heat. You are to study elastic collision by replicating the
following initial conditions and observing the results. You and your lab partners will need
to develop a method to obtain the values requested for the initial conditions. You and
your lab partners will then need to use your method to determine the velocity of the carts
after the collision (event) has occurred. You and your lab partners will need to give an
explanation of your method to allow another independent individual to repeat your
experiment.
Once you have collected your data, you then need to:
 Calculate the initial momentum of each system prior to the event.
 Calculate the final momentum of each system after the event.
 Calculate the initial and final kinetic NRG of each system.
 Determine a relationship between initial and final momentums for elastic collisions.
 Determine how Kinetic NRG is part of the determination.
 Summarize how the data collected demonstrates a relationship between initial and final
momentums for each event. Identify the characteristics given the experimental data which
define elastic and Inelastic collisions.
Scenario #1:
Scenario #4:
Velcro Stick collision between Carts of
Equal Mass
Plunger between - One Cart in Motion with
equal Mass
Cart 1
mass
Cart 1
mass
Cart 1
initial
Velocity
1 kg
Cart 2
Mass
1 kg
Cart 2
Initial
Velocity
0.0 m/s
Velcro Stick Mass of Carts are Unequal.
Cart 1
initial
Velocity
1 kg
1 kg
1.0 kg
Cart 2
Mass
.5 kg
Cart 2
Initial
Velocity
0.0 m/s
Scenario #3:
Velcro Stick - Velcro Stick Mass of Carts
are Unequal.
.5 kg
Cart 1
initial
Velocity
Cart 2
Initial
Velocity
0
Plunger between - One Carts in Motion
with Unequal Mass
Cart 1
mass
Cart 1
initial
Velocity
.5 kg
Cart 1
mass
Cart 2
Mass
Scenario #5:
Scenario #2:
Cart 1
mass
Cart 1
initial
Velocity
Cart 2
Mass
1 kg
Cart 2
Initial
Velocity
0.0 m/s
Cart 2
Mass
1 kg
Cart 2
Initial
Velocity
0
Scenario #6:
Plunger between Both Carts in Motion
with Unequal Mass
Cart 1
mass
1 kg
Cart 1
initial
Velocity
Cart 2
Mass
0.5 kg
Cart 2
Initial
Velocity
Scenario #7:
Magnetic Repulsion Mass of Carts are
equal.
Cart 1
mass
Cart 1
initial
Velocity
1 kg
Cart 2
Mass
1 kg
Cart 2
Initial
Velocity
0.0 m/s
Scenario #8:
Magnetic Repulsion - Both Cart in Motion
and of Equal Mass
Cart 1
mass
Cart 1
initial
Velocity
Cart 2
Mass
1 kg
Cart 2
Initial
Velocity
Scenario #10:
TBD
Cart 1
mass
Cart 1
initial
Velocity
Cart 2
Mass
Cart 2
Initial
Velocity
Cart 2
Mass
Cart 2
Initial
Velocity
Cart 2
Mass
Cart 2
Initial
Velocity
Scenario #11:
TBD
Cart 1
mass
1 kg
Cart 1
initial
Velocity
Scenario #9:
Magnetic Repulsion - Both Cart in Motion
with Unequal Mass
Cart 1
mass
1 kg
Cart 1
initial
Velocity
Cart 2
Mass
Cart 2
Initial
Velocity
Scenario #12:
TBD
Cart 1
mass
Cart 1
initial
Velocity
0.5 kg
Don’t Forget to do the following………………..
 Calculate the kinetic NRG for each cart before the collision.
 Calculate the kinetic NRG of Each Cart after the collision.
 Determine the total Kinetic NRG before the collision.
 Determine the total Kinetic NRG After the collision.
 Compare the total kinetic NRG before the collision to the total kinetic NRG after the collision.
 What is the nature of an elastic collision? What is the true nature of an inelastic collision? Describe
the main ideas learned in this activity regarding initial and final total momentum in elastic collisions.