PHYS 101 / Conservation of Linear Momentum

Experiment 5
Data Sheet

Simulation link: https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/collision-lab/collision-lab_en.html

Experiment

In this experiment, you will perform the elastic and inelastic collisions of two objects in one dimension. You
will measure their masses and the velocities and calculate momentum and kinetic energy of two the objects
before and after the collisions. Then analyze the momentum and kinetic energy conservation.

Procedure for Elastic Collision

1. Open the simulation by clicking on the simulation link given above.

Figure 5.1. Simulation setup for elastic collision.

2. On the main screen check on “velocity vectors”, “Momentum vectors”, “Kinetic Energy” and “show
values” box.
3. For the first part of the experiment, select the “Elasticity” between 95% - 99% (to simulate a more
realistic collosion).

4. Click on the “More Data” to display the Momentum values.

5. Select the masses of object 1 and object 2 any value between 0.5 and 1.5 Kg and record them in TABLE
5.1.

6. Choose appropriate initial velocities of the balls and record them in TABLE 5.1. Negative velocity
indicates motion in the left side direction and positive value indicates motion in the right side direction.

7. Record the final velocities of both the balls just after collision in TABLE 5.1.

8. Calculate the initial momentum and final momentum of both of the objects and record the values in
TABLE 5.1.

Procedure for Inelastic Collision

1. This time drag the “Elasticity” bar to the left side and select it as 0%. Any elasticity different than 0
% will result in two objects wil
2. Choose the masses of Object 1 and Object 2 any value between 0.5 and 1.5 Kg and record them in
TABLE 5.2.
3. Choose an appropriate value of the initial velocity for the balls and record them in 2.
4. After the inelastic collision, the objects will stick together and will move together. Record the final
velocity measurement just after the collision in TABLE 5.2.
5. Positive value of velocity indicates motion in the right side direction and negative value of the
velocity indicates motion in the left side direction.

6. Calculate the initial momentum and final momentum of both of the objects and record the values in
TABLE 5.2.
TABLE 5.1. MASS AND VELOCITY VALUES FOR ELASTIC COLLISION (10 PTS)
OBJECT  1 OBJECT  2
1 M (kg) 0.5 1.5
vinitial (m/ s) 1 0
v final (m/s) -0.48 0.49
M v initial (kgm/ s) 0.50 0.00
M v final (kgm/ s) -0.24 0.74
2 M (kg) 0.6 1.4
vinitial (m/ s) 2.66 -0.74
v final (m/s) -2.03 1.27
M v initial (kgm/ s) 1.6 -1.04
M v final (kgm/ s) -1.22 1.78
3 M (kg) 0.65 1.3
vinitial (m/ s) 1.87 -0.34
v final (m/s) -1.03 1.11
M v initial (kgm/ s) 1.22 -0.44
M v final (kgm/ s) -0.67 1.44
4 M (kg) 0.70 1.2
vinitial (m/ s) 3.13 -1.33
v final (m/s) -2.42 1.91
M v initial (kgm/ s) 2.19 -1.6
M v final (kgm/ s) -1.69 2.29
5 M (kg) 0.75 1.0
vinitial (m/ s) 4.12 -2.00
v final (m/s) -2.77 3.17
M v initial (kgm/ s) 3.09 -2.00
M v final (kgm/ s) -2.08 3.17
TABLE 5.2. MASS AND VELOCITY VALUES FOR INELASTIC COLLISION (10 PTS)
OBJECT  1 OBJECT  2
1 M (kg) 0.5 1.5
vinitial (m/ s) 1 0
v final (m/s) 0.25
M v initial (kgm/ s) 0.5 0
M v final (kgm/ s) 0.50
2 M (kg) 0.6 1.4
vinitial (m/ s) 2.66 -0.74
v final (m/s) 0.28
M v initial (kgm/ s) 1.6 -1.04
M v final (kgm/ s) 0.56
3 M (kg) 0.65 1.3
vinitial (m/ s) 1.87 -0.34
v final (m/s) 0.4
M v initial (kgm/ s) 1.22 -0.44
M v final (kgm/ s) 0.78
4 M (kg) 0.7 1.2
vinitial (m/ s) 3.13 -1.33
v final (m/s) 0.31
M v initial (kgm/ s) 2.19 -1.60
M v final (kgm/ s) 0.59
5 M (kg) 0.75 1.0
vinitial (m/ s) 4.12 -2.00
v final (m/s) 0.62
M v initial (kgm/ s) 3.09 -2.00
M v final (kgm/ s) 1.09