Momentum lab
This lab uses a PHET simulation. Please navigate to the PHET momentum simulation.
If you don’t see the image below when you click on the link, then you need to either enable adobe flash (click on the puzzle piece on your screen) or you need to install adobe flash (this is a free program).
Change the vectors to be Momentum Vectors only. They are yellow.
Make the mass of both balls the same. Hit play and notice what happens to the momentum vectors before and after the collision.
You might want to play the sim multiple times.
Click on restart or Return Balls to start over.
To see numbers, check the Show Values box (inside the green box).
Red’s momentum vector before the collision is _________ Green’s momentum vector after the collision.
Question 1 options:
shorter than
longer than
equal to
Question 2 (1 point)
Saved
Since Green bounces off Red, this must be an ______ collision.
Question 2 options:
explosion
inelastic
elastic
Question 3 (1 point)
Red transfers ___________ of its momentum to green during the collision.
Question 3 options:
little
all
most
none
Question 4 (4 points)
Why does Red transfer all its momentum to Green? Back up your answer with information from the simulation. Write at least 2 sentences.