Lab # 5.

Collision experiment

Aim:
To study the elastic and inelastic impact of collision of two objects on
the air table.

Principle:
Projectile motion：
The projectile motion is illustrated in figure below, where a
projectile is thrown at an angle of φ with an initial velocity v0.
Compared to the projection of an object along its motion it is easy to
see the advantage of treating by resolving the projection vector in two
components viz. the horizontal and vertical motions separately.
y

vy v v

vx
v0 y v0 v
φ
v0 x x
o φ
2xm

Figure 1. The projectile’s trajectory

The acceleration is always directed downward in y axis, you must

substitute a negative value for a. After time t , the horizontal and
vertical components of the displacement are given by:
x = v0 cos φt (1)
1
y = v0 sin φt − at 2 (2)
2

cancel out t , you can get the trajectory of the object is a parabolic
curve:
 a
y = tan φ ⋅ x − x2 (3)
2v0 cos 2 φ
2

When the object reaches the highest point (xm , ym):

v0 sin 2φ
2
xm = (4)
2a

v0 sin 2 φ
2
ym = (5)
2a

The maximum distance is 2xm.

Carry out this experiment on a sloping ramp. The components of

gravity along the slope is the acceleration of a. Please verify parabolic
trajectory.

Inelastic collision:
Consider collision of two objects having inelastic collision in two
dimensional space.

Basic structure of the air table:

The experimental setup was shown in Figure 4. There are two
pucks on the air table. When you plug in the two pucks they will have a
thin layer of air between the two pucks and the air table, the friction
between them is almost zero.
When the pucks are powered on, it will have black spots on the
carbon paper. By observing these black spots then you can get the
trajectory.

Instruments:
Air table and accessories, two disks, carbon paper.

Attentions:
1. When you push the pucks don’t be too hard to avoid scratch the
carbon paper. If you scratch the carbon paper you have to stick it
back.Otherwise, it will be stuck when the puck projectile out.
2. When the projectile experiments finished you should cut off the power
of the pucks. If not, it will be broken due to overheat.
3. When you want cut off the power you should take away from the air
table avoid scratching the glass table.
4. When the experiment is working, you should not touch the air table.
You will get an electric shock, be careful!

Procedure:
I. Projectile motion：
1. The experimental setup is shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4
2. Elevate one end of the air table by an angle θ degree and the other
side should remain the same level. Put one puck at the corner of the
air table. Then projectile will be thrown at an angle φ , at the same
time you should turn on the power of the pucks to dot on the carbon
paper, then you can get the projectile trajectory.
3. Observe projectile trajectory on the carbon paper, find out the initial
velocity v0 and the acceleration a .
4. Measure φ, xm , ym , v0 using formula (5) to calculate the acceleration
a.
5. To draw the figure of x-t and y-t，observe the graphics and try to
explain its physical meaning.
6. Measure θ ，and calculate acceleration by a = g sin θ , compare value
of a with that obtained in step 3.
7. Select a few points to verify the conservation of energy.
8. Try to use different conditions, and repeat steps 1~6.

II. Inelastic collision:

1. Level the air table.
2. For this experiment we will use the same pucks but, this time it will
have velcro on it so that, they will stick together after the collision.
Turn on the power of the pucks, let puck 2 sliding and having
collision with puck 1.Record the trajectory of the inelastic collision.
3. By the trajectory of the inelastic collision, measure the initial velocity
 of puck 1. Find out the speed of the center of mass and prove that
inelastic collision is still following the conservation of momentum.

Questions:
1. Try to estimate the value of the air viscous force, and discuss the
impact of the parabolic trajectory
2. Is this experiment following the conservation of energy and the
conservation of momentum?

Experience and discussion: