Conservation of Momentum and Mechanical Energy in elastic Collisions

1. Download the interactive physics application from the class web site:

http://bama.ua.edu/~andreas/phys101_2007/activities/collision.ip

1. Run the activity with equal mass for both objects, as downloaded. Verify the equation governing such collision (as derived in class). This is done by calculating the expected velocity of the first object (initially in motion) after the collision. Compare your result to the value given by the simulation.

2. Leave the object masses unchanged. Change the velocity of first object. Again calculate the velocity of the first object after the collision and compare to the result of the simulation.

3. Reset the objects velocities to their initial values (1.0 m/s and 0 m/s). Change the mass of the second object (initially at rest) from 1 kg to 2 kg. Calculate the velocity of the first object before and after the collision and compare to the result of the simulation.

4. Reset both object masses to their initial value of 1.0 kg. Give objects one and two initial velocities so that they move towards each other. Calculate the velocity of the first object after the collision and compare your result to the simulation.