Name:______________________ Date:__________________ Pd.

_____

Explore! Momentum of Collisions

Today, you will be using the https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/collision-lab/collision-lab_en.html
Link for this simulation.
1. Once on this site, click the “More Data” box near the bottom
2. Uncheck the “Velocity Vectors” box in the top right and check the “Show Values” box.
3. For each trial, set the mass and velocity of the green and green balls as listed in the table.
6. For each trial, set the Elasticity slider to the value as listed in the table.
7. Click on the “Play” but to initiate the collision.
8. Once the two balls collide, click on the “Pause” button to examine the values. You can drag the green ball
away from the green ball if needed to see the values for Velocity and Momentum
9. Although the simulation will display a value for momentum, very the results with the formula listed in the
table.
10. Click on the “Restart” button when you are ready to begin the next trial

Scenario 1: One ball starts at rest. Both balls with same mass

Red Green

V à V=0
Before After
Red Green Red Green
m v p=mv m v p=mv Elasticity m v p=mv m v p=mv
(kg) (m/s) (kg) (m/s) (kg) (m/s) (kg) (m/s)
a. 1.0 2 1.0 0 Elastic
b. 1.0 2 1.0 0 Inelastic
c. 2.0 2 1.0 0 Elastic
d. 2.0 2 1.0 0 Inelastic

a. What happens when…the two balls have the same mass and one ball hits the other at rest and Elastics?

b. What happens when… the two balls have the same mass and one ball hits the other at rest and locks to
it?

c. What happens when… the red ball has greater mass and collides into the green ball and they Elastic?

d. What happens when… the red ball has greater mass and collides into the green ball and they lock
together?
 In each investigation, compare the total momentum of the system (red ball + green ball) before each
collision to the total momentum of the system (red ball + green ball) after the collision. What do you
notice?

Describe situation c. using momentum, then again using forces and acceleration.

Scenario 2: Balls coming at each other with same speed. Both balls with same mass & mass(red)>mass(green)

Red Green

Và ßV
Before After
Red Green Red Green
m v p=mv m v p=mv Elasticity m v p=mv m v p=mv
(kg) (m/s) (kg) (m/s) (kg) (m/s) (kg) (m/s)
e. 1.0 2 1.0 -2 Elastic
f. 1.0 2 1.0 -2 Inelastic
g. 2.0 2 1.0 -2 Elastic
h. 2.0 2 1.0 -2 Inelastic

e. What happens when…two balls of the same mass are pushed into each other with the same speed?

f. What happens when…two balls of the same mass are pushed into each other with the same speed and
lock together?

g. What happens when…one ball has a greater mass than the other and they are pushed into each other
with the same speed and Elastic?

h. What happens when…one ball has a greater mass than the other and they are pushed into each other
with the same speed and lock together?
 In each investigation, compare the total momentum of the system (red ball + green ball) before each
collision to the total momentum of the system (red ball + green ball) after the collision. What do you
notice?

Describe situation g. using momentum, then again using forces and acceleration.

Scenario 3: Balls moving in the same directions with different velocities

Red Green

V à Và

Before After
Red Green Red Green
m v p=mv m v p=mv Elasticity m v p=mv m v p=mv
(kg) (m/s) (kg) (m/s) (kg) (m/s) (kg) (m/s)
i. 1.0 3 1.0 1 Elastic
j. 1.0 3 1.0 1 Inelastic

i. What happens when…two balls have the same mass, and the faster ball (red) hits the slower ball (green)
and they Elastic?

j. What happens when…two balls have the same mass, and the faster ball (red) hits the slower ball (green)
and they lock together?

In both investigations, compare the total momentum of the system (red ball + green ball) before each
collision to the total momentum of the system (red ball + green ball) after the collision. What do you
notice?
Describe situation i. using momentum, then again using forces and acceleration.

Wrap Up: Complete the following sentences…

k. If the ball’s mass is DOUBLED, its momentum is ________________________.
l. If the ball’s mass is HALVED, its momentum is _________________________.
m. If the ball’s velocity is DOUBLED, its momentum is _____________________.
n. If the ball’s velocity is HALVED, its momentum is ______________________.
o. If the ball’s mass is DOUBLED and its velocity is HALVED, its momentum is ___________________.