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Homework Assignment Which Have To Be Done With Partners: Phet Collision Lab: Introduction in One Dimension

This document provides instructions for a homework assignment on collisions using a PhET simulation. Students are asked to: [1] Run collision experiments and record data in a table; [2] Answer questions about conserved and non-conserved quantities in elastic vs. inelastic collisions; [3] Repeat experiments varying elasticity and update responses. The goal is to understand vector representations of collisions and which physical properties are conserved under different collision conditions.

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Karen Martínez
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294 views1 page

Homework Assignment Which Have To Be Done With Partners: Phet Collision Lab: Introduction in One Dimension

This document provides instructions for a homework assignment on collisions using a PhET simulation. Students are asked to: [1] Run collision experiments and record data in a table; [2] Answer questions about conserved and non-conserved quantities in elastic vs. inelastic collisions; [3] Repeat experiments varying elasticity and update responses. The goal is to understand vector representations of collisions and which physical properties are conserved under different collision conditions.

Uploaded by

Karen Martínez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PhET Collision Lab: Introduction in One Dimension

Homework assignment which have to be done with partners


Open the following simulation: http://phet.colorado.edu/sims/collision-lab/collision-lab_en.html

Learning goals:

 Draw "before-and-after" pictures of collisions.


 Construct appropriate vector representations of "before-and-after" collisions.
 Explain what variables are conserved and under what conditions.
 What does “elasticity” mean?
 Identify vector and scalar quantities.

Directions:

1. Experiment with one-dimension elastic collisions (Check 1d and set elasticity at 100%). Make a table
like this to help you organize your thoughts about collisions; use landscape layout so you can fit
everything; “x” means there would not be a drawing in that box. Try varying mass and initial speed
(including some initial zero velocity). I am expecting several trials. The Restart button is handy for
replaying an experiment.

Mass Mass Initial Initial Initial Initial total Kinetic Final Final Final total Final total Kinetic
1 2 velocity velocity total momentum energy velocity velocit velocity momentum energy final
1 2 velocity initial 1 y2

Trial 1
Pictures of x x x x
balls with
vector
More
trials
Pictures of x x x x
balls with
vector

2. Think about the relationships you observed and then answer these questions:
a. What the difference between the quantities that have vector drawings and the ones that don’t?
b. In your own words, what does “elastic collision” mean?
c. List quantities that have the same value (and direction if a vector) before and after the collision.
If a quantity has the same value (and direction if a vector), it is said to be “conserved”
d. What quantities are not “conserved”?
e. Run one more experiment to check your answer to 2c and 2d. Describe your experiment and
explain how it supports your answers.

3. Try some of the experiments again, varying the elasticity. Record your results in a similar data table, but
add a column for “elasticity”.

4. Describe:
a. Any changes you need to make to your definition of “elastic collision” from 2b.
b. Adaptations to your ideas about quantities that are conserved when the elasticity is varied.

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