JMJ Marist Brothers

College of Engineering and Technology

NOTRE DAME OF MARBEL UNIVERSITY
City of Koronadal, South Cotabato

Name: _____________________________ Subject – Section page ____

Activity 7 – Momentum, Impulse and Collision Rating: ______

Introduction
The following experiment explores the conservation of momentum and energy in a closed
physical system. In this lab, we will see in practice how the conservation of momentum and total energy
relate various parameters (masses, velocities) of the system independently of the nature of the
interaction between the colliding bodies.
Momentum:
For a single object, momentum is defined as the product of the mass and velocity of an object. It is
a vector quantity, possessing a magnitude and a direction. If m is an object's mass and v is its velocity
(also a vector quantity), then the object's momentum is P= m V (eq.1)
Conservation of momentum:
The conservation of momentum states that the total momentum of a system is constant if the net
external force acting on the system is zero (in equation form pi = pf). When collisions occur the forces
between objects are internal forces and do not affect the total momentum of the system (it does affect the
individual momentums of the objects however). Thus, the conservation of momentum can also be stated
this way: The total momentum before a collision is equal to the total momentum after a collision (or pi =
pf where pi is the momentum before the collision and pf is the momentum after the collision). For two
objects:
pi = p1i + p2i & pf = p1f + p2f

thus pi = pf turns into

p1i + p2i = p1f + p2f and since p = mv

this turns into: m1V1i + m2V2i = m1V1f + m2V2f

Figure 7.1
Elastic collision:
In perfectly elastic collisions objects bounce of one another when they collide. In this type of collision
both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved (or pi = pf and Ki = Kf ).
The momentum is given by: P= m V
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Prepared and revised by: Engr. Princess Edynette L. Pinto ©The phET Interactive Simulations, All Rights Reserved
 JMJ Marist Brothers
College of Engineering and Technology
NOTRE DAME OF MARBEL UNIVERSITY
City of Koronadal, South Cotabato
The kinetic energy
is given by: K= (1/2) mV2

Inelastic collision:
A perfectly inelastic collision is one in which the objects stick together and move as a single unit after the
collision. In this type of collision momentum is conserved, but kinetic energy is not conserved.
Objectives
At the end of the activity, the students should be able to:
a. study collision in one dimension and collision in two dimensions; and
b. calculate the momentum and kinetic energy conservation in elastic and inelastic collisions.

Getting Ready

Visit Phet interactive simulation using the link below, then explore the simulation and find out the
uses of each tap and panel so you get familiar with it. Use the following link to open the “Collision Lab”
Phet Simulation: https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/collision-lab/latest/collision-lab_en.html.

Procedures:

Part 1: Elastic collision

1. Open the link above. Click the tab “Intro”. You will see a window as shown in figure 7.2. Use the
mass controller to control the mass of the balls (m 1 and m2).

Figure 7.2
2. Control the balls velocity by changing the length and the direction of the velocity vector. Press on
the circle at the tip of the velocity vector and then drag to change its magnitude and direction.
3. For elastic collision use the elasticity controller. Drag the blue rectangle to the right to choose the
collision type (elastic for this part).
From The phET Interactive Simulations https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations
Prepared and revised by: Engr. Princess Edynette L. Pinto ©The phET Interactive Simulations, All Rights Reserved
 JMJ Marist Brothers
College of Engineering and Technology
NOTRE DAME OF MARBEL UNIVERSITY
City of Koronadal, South Cotabato
4. Once you fix
your variables, press on more data button to record your data before collision and then press play
and then after the two balls collide, pause the simulation to record your data after collision, press
on show values to get your data.

5. Fill in tables 7.1(a), (b), and (c)

Condition 1: m1=m2=3kg

Mass V1i V2i V1f P1i P2i P1f P2f Pi Pf Ki Kf

(m/s) (m/s) (m/s) (m/s) (kg-m/s) (kg-m/s) (kg-m/s) (kg-m/s) (kg-m/s) (kg-m/s2) (kg-m/s2)

Table 7.1 (a)

Condition 2: m1= 1kg and m2=3kg
Mas V1i V2i V1f P1i P2i P1f P2f Pi Pf Ki Kf
s (m/s) (m/s) (m/s) (m/s) (kg-m/s) (kg-m/s) (kg-m/s) (kg-m/s) (kg-m/s) (kg-m/s2) (kg-m/s2)

Table 7.1 (b)

Condition 3: m1= 2.7kg, m2=0.1kg

Mass V1i V2i V1f P1i P2i P1f P2f Pi Pf Ki Kf

(m/s) (m/s) (m/s) (m/s) (kg-m/s) (kg-m/s) (kg-m/s) (kg-m/s) (kg-m/s) (kg-m/s2) (kg-m/s2)

Table 7.1 (c)

6. Write your comments regarding the linear momentum and the kinetic energy of the three cases
shown above for elastic collision.

Table 7.1 (a)

Table 7.1 (b)

Table 7.1 (c)

From The phET Interactive Simulations https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations

Prepared and revised by: Engr. Princess Edynette L. Pinto ©The phET Interactive Simulations, All Rights Reserved
 JMJ Marist Brothers
College of Engineering and Technology
NOTRE DAME OF MARBEL UNIVERSITY
City of Koronadal, South Cotabato

Part 2: Inelastic collision

1. Repeat procedure numbers 1 – 4 of part 1. For inelastic collision, drag the blue rectangle to the left
to choose the collision type (inelastic for this part).

Figure 7.3

2. Fill in tables 7.2(a), (b), and (c)

Condition 1: m1=m2=3kg
Mass V1i V2i V1f P1i P2i P1f P2f Pi Pf Ki Kf
(kg) (m/s) (m/s) (m/s) (m/s) (kg-m/s) (kg-m/s) (kg-m/s) (kg-m/s) (kg-m/s) (kg-m/s2) (kg-m/s2)

Table 7.2 (a)

Condition 2: m1= 1kg and m2=3kg
Mas V1i V2i V1f P1i P2i P1f P2f Pi Pf Ki Kf
s(kg) (m/s) (m/s) (m/s) (m/s) (kg-m/s) (kg-m/s) (kg-m/s) (kg-m/s) (kg-m/s) (kg-m/s2) (kg-m/s2)

Table 7.2 (b)

Condition 3: m1= 2.7kg, m2=0.1kg
Mass V1i V2i V1f P1i P2i P1f P2f Pi Pf Ki Kf
(kg) (m/s) (m/s) (m/s) (m/s) (kg-m/s) (kg-m/s) (kg-m/s) (kg-m/s) (kg-m/s) (kg-m/s2) (kg-m/s2)

From The phET Interactive Simulations https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations

Prepared and revised by: Engr. Princess Edynette L. Pinto ©The phET Interactive Simulations, All Rights Reserved
 JMJ Marist Brothers
College of Engineering and Technology
NOTRE DAME OF MARBEL UNIVERSITY
City of Koronadal, South Cotabato

Table 7.2 (c)

3. Write your comments regarding the linear momentum and the kinetic energy of the three cases
shown above for inelastic collision.

Table 7.2 (a)

Table 7.2 (b)

Table 7.2 (c)

Part 3: Elastic collision: One Dimension

1. Open same link. Click the tab “Explore 1D”. You will see a window as shown in figure 7.4. Repeat
procedure numbers 2 – 3 of part 1. Set the Elasticity to 100%.

Figure 7.4

2. Once you fix your variables, press on more data button to record your data before collision and
then press play and then after the two balls collide, pause the simulation at exactly 10 seconds
to record your data after collision, press on show values to get your data.
3. Fill in table 7.3.
Condition: m1=0.6 kg; m2=1.2 kg; m3=1.8 kg; m4=2.4 kg; m5=3 kg

Mass Vi Vf Pi Pf Ki Kf
(kg) (m/s) (m/s) (m/s) (kg-m/s) (kg-m/s2) (kg-m/s2)

From The phET Interactive Simulations https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations

Prepared and revised by: Engr. Princess Edynette L. Pinto ©The phET Interactive Simulations, All Rights Reserved
 JMJ Marist Brothers
College of Engineering and Technology
NOTRE DAME OF MARBEL UNIVERSITY
City of Koronadal, South Cotabato
Table 7.3

4. Write your comments regarding the linear momentum and the kinetic energy of the case shown
above for one-dimension elastic collision.

Part 4: Inelastic collision: One Dimension

1. Fill in table 7.4.

Condition 1: m1=0.6 kg; m2=1.2 kg; m3=1.8 kg; m4=2.4 kg; m5=3 kg

Mass Vi Vf Pi Pf Ki Kf
(kg) (m/s) (m/s) (m/s) (kg-m/s) (kg-m/s2) (kg-m/s2)

Table 7.4
2. Write your comments regarding the linear momentum and the kinetic energy of the case shown
above for one-dimension inelastic collision.

Part 5: Elastic collision: Two Dimension

1. Fill in table 7.5.
Condition 1: m1=0.75 kg; m2=1.5 kg; m3=2.25 kg; m4=3 kg

Position (Sx) Position (Sy) Velocity (Vx) Velocity (Vy) Momentum (Px) Momentum (Py)
Mass (m) (m) (m/s) (m/s) (kg-m/s) (kg-m/s)
(kg)
Si Sf Si Sf Vi Vf Vi Vf Mi Mf Mi Mf

Table 7.5

From The phET Interactive Simulations https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations

Prepared and revised by: Engr. Princess Edynette L. Pinto ©The phET Interactive Simulations, All Rights Reserved
 JMJ Marist Brothers
College of Engineering and Technology
NOTRE DAME OF MARBEL UNIVERSITY
City of Koronadal, South Cotabato

2. Write your comments regarding the linear momentum and the kinetic energy of the case shown
above for two-dimension elastic collision.

Part 6: Inelastic collision: Two Dimension

1. Fill in table 7.6.

Condition 1: m1=0.75 kg; m2=1.5 kg; m3=2.25 kg; m4=3 kg

Position (Sx) Position (Sy) Velocity (Vx) Velocity (Vy) Momentum (Px) Momentum (Py)
Mass (m) (m) (m/s) (m/s) (kg-m/s) (kg-m/s)
(kg)
Si Sf Si Sf Vi Vf Vi Vf Mi Mf Mi Mf

Table 7.6
2. Write your comments regarding the linear momentum and the kinetic energy of the case shown
above for two-dimension inelastic collision.

Conclusion:

From The phET Interactive Simulations https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations

Prepared and revised by: Engr. Princess Edynette L. Pinto ©The phET Interactive Simulations, All Rights Reserved