PASCO MINI LAUNCHER ME-6825A Instruction Manual And Experiment Manual page 31

012-05479B
PERFORM THE FOLLOWING THREE STEPS FOR THE ELASTIC COLLISION AND THEN
REPEAT THESE THREE STEPS FOR THE INELASTIC COLLISION:
➃
For the x-direction, check that the momentum before equals the momentum after the
collision. To do this, use the lengths for the momentums and calculate the x-components
using the angles. Record the results in Tables 6.1 and 6.2.
➄
For the y-direction, check that the momenta for the two balls are equal and opposite, thus
canceling each other. To do this, calculate the y-components using the angles. Record the
results in the Tables.
➅
Calculate the total kinetic energy before and the total kinetic energy after the collision.
Calculate the percent difference. Record the results in the Tables.
Initial
x-momentum
y-momentum
ball 1
Initial KE
Initial
x-momentum
y-momentum
ball 1
Initial KE
Questions
➀
Was momentum conserved in the x-direction for each type of collision?
➁
Was momentum conserved in the y-direction for each type of collision?
➂
Was energy conserved for the elastic collision?
➃
Was energy conserved for the inelastic collision?
➄
For the elastic collision, was the angle between the paths of the balls after the collision
equal to 90 degrees as expected?
➅
For the inelastic collision, what was the angle between the paths of the balls after the
collision? Why is it less than 90°?
®
Table 6.1 Results for the Elastic Collision
Final
x-momentum
y-momentum
ball 2
Final KE
Table 6.2 Results for the Inelastic Collision
Final
x-momentum
y-momentum
ball 2
Final KE
29
% difference
% difference
% difference
% difference
% difference
% difference
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