Elastic Collisions

Using the same setup of two trolleys on a smooth, level track, you can explore elastic collisions, where both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved. The key difference in this experiment compared to inelastic collisions is that the trolleys should not stick together after colliding. Instead, they should bounce off each other, retaining their individual velocities.

Steps to explore elastic collisions:

1. Modify the trolleys: Ensure the trolleys do not have any mechanism like Velcro or magnets that would cause them to stick together. Instead, add elastic bumpers or springs on their front ends to facilitate bouncing upon collision.

2. Initial velocity: Just like in the inelastic collision setup, push one trolley towards the other, or have both trolleys moving toward each other. You can use motion sensors or timing tools to measure the velocities of the trolleys before and after the collision.

3. Observe the collision: After the trolleys collide and bounce off each other, measure their velocities again. In an elastic collision, both momentum and kinetic energy should be conserved.

4. Momentum conservation: Just as in the inelastic collision experiment, calculate the momentum before and after the collision:
Initial Momentum = m1v1 + m2v2
Final Momentum = m1v1' + m2v2'
The total momentum before and after the collision should be equal, confirming the conservation of momentum.

5. Kinetic energy conservation: Unlike inelastic collisions, where kinetic energy is lost, in an elastic collision, the total kinetic energy before and after the collision is conserved. Use the formula for kinetic energy:
Initial Kinetic Energy = 1/2 m1v1^2 + 1/2 m2v2^2
Final Kinetic Energy = 1/2 m1v1'^2 + 1/2 m2v2'^2
If the total kinetic energy before and after the collision is the same, then the collision is elastic.

Exploring variables:

Mass variation: As with inelastic collisions, you can explore how the masses of the trolleys affect the final velocities. In elastic collisions, lighter trolleys will typically experience more significant changes in velocity compared to heavier trolleys.

Velocity changes: Vary the initial velocities of the trolleys to explore how faster or slower collisions impact the results. In an elastic collision, the total kinetic energy should remain constant regardless of the initial speeds.

Analysis:

The experiment with elastic collisions highlights two critical points:

1. Conservation of momentum: Just like in inelastic collisions, the total momentum before and after the collision remains the same.

2. Conservation of kinetic energy: Unlike inelastic collisions, in an elastic collision, the total kinetic energy is conserved, meaning there is no loss of energy to sound, heat, or deformation.

This experiment helps students or enthusiasts gain a deeper understanding of how elastic collisions work, offering insights into real-world applications like billiard balls, gas molecule interactions, or other scenarios where objects bounce off each other without losing energy.

[spenzr]

Do it with different weight ratio please