PASCO ME-8930 SMART TIMER User Manual
Page 25
012–06734A
Smart Timer
21
Analysis
1. For each of the cases, calculate the momentum of each cart before the collision. Record
the results in Table 3.2.
2. For each of the cases, calculate the total momentum of both carts before the collision.
Record the results in Table 3.2.
3. For each of the cases, calculate the total momentum of both carts after the collision.
Record the results in Table 3.2.
4. For each of the cases, calculate the percent difference between the total momentum of
the carts before and after the collision and record in the table.
Questions
Table 3.2 Results
1. When two carts moving toward each other have the same mass and the same speed,
they stop when they collide and stick together. What happens to each cart’s
momentum? Is momentum conserved? Explain.
2. Kinetic energy is not conserved in inelastic collisions. For one of the collisions,
calculate the percentage of the kinetic energy that is lost in the collision. Where does
this energy go?
p
1
e
r
o
f
e
B
p
2
e
r
o
f
e
B
P
L
A
T
O
T
e
r
o
f
e
B
P
L
A
T
O
T
r
e
tf
A
f
o
%
e
c
n
e
r
e
ff
i
D
1
l
a
ir
T
2
l
a
ir
T
3
l
a
ir
T
4
l
a
ir
T
5
l
a
ir
T