Collisions in

one dimension

Goal of this Lab

1. The goal is to investigate the conservation of
momentum and energy in the one-dimensional

collision of two bodies through the study of

elastic and inelastic collisions
1. Demonstrate that conservation of momentum is
independent of conservation of energy.

Background
For a single particle, momentum is defined as the
product of the mass and the velocity:
p = mv
Momentum, as velocity, is a vector.
For a system of more than one particle, the total linear
momentum is the vector sum of the individual
momenta:
p = p1 + p2 + = m1v1 + m2v2 + ...

Background

Elastic Collision: V1i-V2i =-(V1f-V2f

The total momentum of any system of particles is

conserved (constant), provided that the net external force
on the system is zero.
When two freely moving bodies collide, the initial
momentum of the system is equal to its final momentum.
This Conservation of Momentum Law applies no matter
if the collision is elastic or inelastic and no matter how
complicated the interaction force between the colliding
bodies may be.

Background
Assume we have two particles with masses m1, m2 and
speeds v1i and v2i which collide, without any external
force, resulting in speeds of v1f and v2f after the collision.

Conservation of momentum states that the total

momentum before the collision (pi) is equal to the total
momentum after the collision (pf ) and since:
pi = m1v1i + m2v2i and pf = m1v1f + m2v2f
Therefore:

m1v1i + m2v2i = m1v1f + m2v2f

Background
Kinetic energy is the form of energy associated
with motion, and for a single particle:
EK = mv2.
Kinetic energy is a scalar
For a system of more than one particle the total
kinetic energy is the algebraic sum of the
individual kinetic energies of each particle:
EKT = EK1 + EK2 +
EKT = (m1v12 + m2v22 + )

Procedure
Part 1 Elastic collision
In the first part of this experiment you will analyze
elastic collisions in one dimension. We will:
a. Determine the linear momentum of a physical body.
a. Apply the principle of conservation of linear

momentum and energy to analyze elastic collisions in

one dimension.

Procedure
Select two carts having the same mass (m1 = m2).
Level the track (the carts do not accelerate in
either direction).
3. Place two photogates, separated from each other by
a distance a little over twice the car length.

1.
2.

Gate 2

Gate 1

car 2

car 1

Background
A fundamental law of physics is that in any
interaction, the total energy of a system is always
conserved.
However, within a given system, one form of
energy may be converted into another.
Therefore, kinetic energy alone is not always
conserved.
In inelastic collisions, the kinetic energy is not
conserved. The difference is converted into other
forms of energy, such as sound, heat, etc.

Procedure
4. Put a Piquet Fence in each one of the cars
5. Place car 1 out of the fotogates

6. Conect the Smart Timer to the gates. This

will give you the speed of the cars.

Gate 2

Gate 1

Car 2

car 1

car 1

Procedure
7. Keep car 2 at rest and push car 1, allowing it to
slide freely .
8. Be sure that car 1 passes completely through
photogate #1 before colliding with car 2.
9. Obtain the initial and final velocities for each car
10. Repeat the procedure with m1>m2 and m2>m1,
adding masses to the cars.
Gate 2

Gate 1

Car 2

car 1

car 1

Background
Part 2: Inelastic collision
A fundamental law of physics is that in any interaction,
the total energy of a system is always conserved.
However, within a given system, one form of energy may
be converted into another.
In inelastic collisions, kinetic energy is not conserved.
The difference is converted into other forms of energy,
such as sound, heat, potential energy, etc.

Background
It turns out that the conservation of momentum is still
valid, but the final kinetic energy is less than the initial
In the inelastic collision analyzed in this lab the two
bodies stick together after collision and have a common
final velocity.
We call that: perfectly inelastic collision.
One way to express the change of kinetic energy is with
the parameter, defined in our case as:
= 100 KEf / Kei

Procedure
Select two carts having the same mass (m1 = m2).
2. Level the track (the carts do not accelerate in either
direction).
3. Place two photogates, separated from each other by
a distance a little over twice the car length.
4. Place the cars facing the velcro bumpers so that,
upon collision, the cars stick together.
1.

velcro

Gate 2

car 2

car 1

Gate 1

Procedure
Put a Piquet Fence in each one of the cars
6. Conect the Smart Timer to the gates. This will give
you the speed of the carts.
7. Place car 1 out of the fotogates
5.

Gate 2

Gate 1

car 2

car 1

car 1

Procedure
8. Keep car 2 at rest and push car 1, allowing it to

slide freely .
9. Be sure that car 1 passes completely through
photogate #1 before colliding with car 2.
10. They will stick together and move on the track.
11. The Timer will record the velocity of m2 (now
connected with m1) through photogate #2.
Gate 2

Gate 1

car 2

car 1

car 1

Procedure
11. Repeat the procedure with m1>m2 and m2>m1,
attaching masses to the cars.

12. Use your measurements to determine if linear

momentum and Kinetic Energy are conserved.
13. Calculate the parameter.

Report
1. For each experiment, find the initial and

final linear momenta and kinetic energies of

the system.
2. Calculate the difference, and the percent

difference, of the linear momenta and kinetic

energies for elastic and inelastic colision.
3. Make a table with the percent differences of

the linear momentum and kinetic energies,

for elastic and inelastic.

Report
4. Are the percent differences of the linear

momentum and kinetic energies the same for

elastic than for inelastic? Comment.
4. Is kinetic energy always conserved?
4. What is the meaning of the parameter?

4. What is the main difference between elastic

and inelastic collisions?

Procedure
Part 2: Inelastic collision
Data: Equal Masses and Unequal Masses Case
m1, m2, v1i, v2i, vf for case where m1 = m2)
m1, m2, v1i, v2i, vf for case where m1 > m2)
m1, m2, v1i, v2i, vf for case where m1 < m2)

Procedure
Part 1: Elastic collision
Results:
If m2 moving
v2f = (m2-m1)v2i / (m1+m2)

If m1 moving
v1f=(m1-m2)v1i/(m1+m2)

v1f = 2m2v2i / (m1+m2)

v2f=2m1v1i/(m1+m2)

Compare to measured values, calculate deviation

Data
Data Table 2: Inelastic Collision
Trial
m1 = m2

m1 > m2
m1 < m2

m1

m2

v1i

v2i

vf

Data
Result Table 2: Inelastic Collision
Trial
m1 = m2
m1 > m2
m1 < m2

P1i

P2i

Pf

PiT

% diff

Results
From your data, find the initial momentum and the
final momentum of the system, for each one of the
experiments.
Calculate the p (% conserved) parameter for
momentum.
Review your results and try to explain any deviation
from the conservation of linear momentum.

Results
Calculate and compare the initial and final kinetic
energies of the system, for the inelastic experiments.
Is kinetic energy always conserved?
What does the parameter mean?

What is the main difference between elastic and

inelastic collisions?

Results
m1v1i + m2v2i = (m1+m2) vf
p = pf / pi * 100%
m1v1i2 + m2v2i2 = (m1+m2) vf2

= KEf / KEi * 100%

Procedure
Part 1: Elastic collision
Data: Equal Masses and Unequal Masses Case
m1, m2, v1i, v2i, v1f, v2f for case where m1 = m2)
m1, m2, v1i, v2i, v1f, v2f for case where m1 > m2)
m1, m2, v1i, v2i, v1f, v2f for case where m1 < m2)

Data
Data Table 1: Elastic Collision
Trial
m1 = m2

m1 > m2
m1 < m2

m1

m2

v1i

v2i

v1f

v2f

Data
Result Table 1: Elastic Collision
Trial
m1 = m2
m1 > m2
m1 < m2

P1i

P2i

P1f

P2f

PiT

PfT

% diff

Data
Result Table 1: Elastic Collision
Trial
m1 = m2
m1 > m2
m1 < m2

KEi

KEf

% diff