Collisions+momentum+energy experiment

  • Thread starter Atlaπtis
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In summary, the student is looking for a way to do an experiment that is like the one they were told they couldn't do, but is different. They are also looking for help from others.
  • #1
Atlaπtis
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Homework Statement


I have to do an experiment for a year 12 outcome, and I'm investigating the conservation of momentum and energy in collisions. I was going to use the air track, but my teacher told me on Friday that the air track is not working properly, and we start the prac tomorrow (monday), so I'm not sure what I'm going to do seeing as it's an outcome/SAC (i'm in Australia, so outcomes/SACs go towards our enter score to get into university)


Homework Equations


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The Attempt at a Solution


So when i asked my teacher for help, he said he couldn't because it's supposed to be, like, the students finding out everything. He did say that "oh i once did a prac where i got an incline and rolled the balls off the table where they landed on carbon paper" and then he said "which you can't do because I just said it."...So I'm stuck, I've been looking on the internet (google) but I can't find very much that doesn't involve the air track...What I need is some kind of experiment, that can be LIKE what the teacher said, but has to be different...if you know what I mean?

Anyway, thanks so much to anyone that can help...I'm going to go look on yahoo and see if they have anything different lol
 
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  • #2
what exactly is this? Maybe you should look up about elastic and inelastic collisions?

By the way, I am in year 12 also.
 
  • #3
Yeah I have looked that up and that's what my air track experiment was supposed to be about..but the teacher only told us at the last minute we couldn't use it...so I'm trying to find another experiment where I could test and prove the difference between elastic and inelastic collisions. But I can't find very much. I asked my group members what they wanted to do about it and they said "Well, we could just do it anyway and write on the prac report 'the air track was broken so our results are inaccurate'"...So they aren't helping very much.
I was also trying to find something maybe like, collisions between a ball and the wall, or a ball/trolley and another ball/trolley, but yeah..I don't know... Any ideas?

(Thanks for replying by the way)
 
  • #4
Pool tables? Um, what else in real and practicle life is inelastic and elastic collisisions happening?

Anytime, as a VCE, to VCE student, i think it natural
 
  • #5
well, collisions of atoms...but I can't really do that lol
Maybe if I constucted some sort of pendlum with two steel balls attached to it and used them for collisions? I'd have to see if my school had photgates though...But that would nearly be elastic as there wouldn't be any friction...well, apart from the small friction between the two balls during the collision and the air resisitance...but not as much as just whacking two balls together... lol i bet anything that my school wouldn't have photogates though..So i'd have to find another way to time it...
I swear, my physics teacher doesn't help with anything...he doesn't even set us homework he just says we should know what we have to do and if we have any problems we should "go google it"
 
  • #6
do you have a bocce set?

toy cars?
 
  • #7
I'm not sure what kind of supervision you need for your experiments but could use an air hockey table
 
  • #8
Okay, the air track is now useable, the only problem is is that we only have one photo gate and a pulley, only the pulley is impacting on it too much...Does anyone have any ideas on how I can get data from the air track? I thought maybe a strobe light and a camera, but i don't know if that would provide accurate results...
 
  • #9
That very well might work, the only reason why it might not, is because the camera might not be able to record enough frames in a second, for you to be able to break the recording down and analyse it properly. The strob light might help it do that, but I cannot say for sure, as I have never needed to closely analyse the data to give close and factual answers before.
 

1. What is the purpose of the collisions, momentum, and energy experiment?

The purpose of this experiment is to observe and investigate the principles of collisions, momentum, and energy conservation in a controlled environment. By conducting this experiment, scientists can better understand the fundamental laws of physics and how they apply to real-world situations.

2. What materials are needed for this experiment?

The materials needed for this experiment may vary depending on the specific setup and objectives. However, some common materials include objects with different masses, a track or surface for the objects to collide on, and measuring tools such as a ruler or scale.

3. How is momentum calculated in this experiment?

Momentum is calculated by multiplying an object's mass by its velocity. In this experiment, the velocity of the objects can be determined by measuring the distance they travel and the time it takes for them to collide. The mass can be measured using a scale or by knowing the material and dimensions of the objects.

4. What is the role of energy in this experiment?

Energy is a crucial factor in this experiment as it is conserved during collisions. The total energy before and after the collision remains the same, although it may change forms (e.g. kinetic to potential energy). This allows scientists to analyze and compare the energy transfer and conservation during collisions.

5. How can this experiment be applied in real-world situations?

The principles of collisions, momentum, and energy conservation are applicable in various real-world situations, such as car accidents, sports, and engineering. By understanding these principles, scientists can predict and prevent potential accidents and design more efficient and safe structures and machines.

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