User's Manual

012-05479B Mini Launcher

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.

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°?

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