Physics – Air Track Lab Online                               Name ___________________

 

Data Sheet:  Momentum and Energy in Collisions

 

ELASTIC COLLISIONS – Data

 

Trial

m

m

t

t

t

v

v

v

v

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Momentum Calculations - Show sample calculations here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trial

p

p

P

p

p

P

DP

% error

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kinetic Energy Calculations – Show sample calculations here.

         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trial

ke

ke

KE

ke

ke

KE

DKE

% error

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inelastic Collisions - Data

 

Trial

m

m

t

t

 

v

v

v

v

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Momentum Calculations - Show sample calculations here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trial

p

p

P

p

p

P

DP

% error

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kinetic Energy Calculations – Show sample calculations here.

         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trial

ke

ke

KE

ke

ke

KE

DKE

% error

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Questions:

1.  Should momentum be conserved for both elastic and inelastic collisions?

 

List at least three different reasons that is wasn’t completely conserved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.  Should kinetic energy be conserved for elastic collisions? _____

          Should it be conserved for inelastic collisions? _____

 

          Compare the % change for elastic and inelastic.  Did it seem to follow in theory what should happen?