Final answer:
During the collision experiment with coins, kinetic energy is converted to other forms, such as thermal energy, due to the inelastic nature of the collision. The conservation of momentum is maintained overall, but kinetic energy decreases. You would use conservation of momentum and kinetic energy equations to explore changes in dissipated energy.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the lab experiment where coins were launched at a small collection of coins, energy changed in a specific way due to the collision. When a coin is launched and collides with other coins, the kinetic energy of the moving coin is transferred to the coins it hits. Ideally, if no other forces are involved, the law of conservation of momentum would indicate that the total momentum of the system remains unchanged, even as individual coins change speeds and directions. However, the collision is typically inelastic, meaning that some kinetic energy is converted into other forms of energy like thermal energy, resulting in the system having less kinetic energy after the collision than before it.
To investigate how the initial values of physical quantities affect the fraction of mechanical energy dissipated in the collision, you could vary the mass, velocity, or angle at which the coins are launched. Calculations would involve using the conservation of momentum equation, momentum = mass x velocity, and the kinetic energy equation, kinetic energy = 1/2 mass x velocity2. By comparing the total momentum and kinetic energy of the system before and after the collision, you can determine the energy lost as heat or other energy forms.