beautypg.com

PASCO ME-6825A MINI LAUNCHER User Manual

Page 31

background image

012-05479B

Mini Launcher

29

®

PERFORM THE FOLLOWING THREE STEPS FOR THE ELASTIC COLLISION AND THEN
REPEAT THESE THREE STEPS FOR THE INELASTIC COLLISION:

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.

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.

Calculate the total kinetic energy before and the total kinetic energy after the collision.
Calculate the percent difference. Record the results in the Tables.

Questions

Was momentum conserved in the x-direction for each type of collision?

Was momentum conserved in the y-direction for each type of collision?

Was energy conserved for the elastic collision?

Was energy conserved for the inelastic collision?

For the elastic collision, was the angle between the paths of the balls after the collision
equal to 90 degrees as expected?

For the inelastic collision, what was the angle between the paths of the balls after the
collision? Why is it less than 90°?

Initial

x-momentum

Final

x-momentum

% difference

y-momentum

ball 1

y-momentum

ball 2

% difference

Initial KE

Final KE

% difference

Initial

x-momentum

Final

x-momentum

% difference

y-momentum

ball 1

y-momentum

ball 2

% difference

Initial KE

Final KE

% difference

Table 6.2 Results for the Inelastic Collision

Table 6.1 Results for the Elastic Collision