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Collision Lab
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HTML5 Prototype:
Prototypes are in their design phase and not fully tested.
Topics
- Collisions
- Momentum
- Velocity
Description
Use an air hockey table to investigate simple collisions in 1D and more complex collisions in 2D. Experiment with the number of discs, masses, and initial conditions. Vary the elasticity and see how the total momentum and kinetic energy changes during collisions.
Sample Learning Goals
- Draw "before-and-after" pictures of collisions.
- Construct momentum vector representations of "before-and-after" collisions.
- Apply law of conservation of momentum to solve problems of collisions.
- Explain why energy is not conserved and varies in some collisions.
- Determine the change in mechanical energy in collisions of varying “elasticity”.
- What does “elasticity” mean?
Version 2.01
Teacher Tips
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Overview of sim controls, model simplifications, and insights into student thinking ( PDF ). |
Teacher-Submitted Activities
Concept questions for Physics using PhET (Inquiry Based) |
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Trish Loeblein | HS UG-Intro |
MC | Physics |
Algebra-based Physics Semester one lessons, clicker questions, and schedule in pdf (Inquiry Based) |
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Trish Loeblein | HS UG-Intro |
HW Lab Demo |
Physics |
Collision Lab : Introduction to One Dimension collisions |
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Patricia Loeblein | HS UG-Intro |
Lab HW |
Physics |
Collision Lab Basics |
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Brett Moser | HS MS |
Guided Lab |
Physics | |
PhET Collision Lab |
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Wendy Adams | HS UG-Intro |
Lab | ||
PhET Collisions |
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Brent Olyowski | HS | Lab | ||
Alignment of PhET sims with NGSS |
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Trish Loeblein updated by Diana López | HS MS |
Other | Biology Chemistry Physics Earth Science |
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How do PhET simulations fit in my middle school program? |
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Sarah Borenstein | MS | Other | Chemistry Earth Science Physics Biology |
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PhET Sims Aligned to the Chemistry Curriculum |
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Julia Chamberlain | HS UG-Intro |
Other | Chemistry | |
Questions on conservation of momentum | Alexander Moore | MS | Remote HW Guided |
Physics | ||
Physics Lab Worksheet Momentum.docx | Taha Salah | HS | Lab | Physics | ||
2-d collisions | Yau-Jong Twu | UG-Intro HS |
Remote Guided Lab HW |
Physics | ||
linear momentum and collisions | Alya mohamed | UG-Intro HS |
HW Lab |
Physics | ||
Conservation of Linear Momentum | Ahmed Alblooshi | Other UG-Intro HS |
Lab Guided |
Physics | ||
Conservation of Linear Momentum | Mostafa Hassan Mohammed Elmallah | UG-Intro | Lab | Physics | ||
Conservation of Linear Momentum | Ahmed S. Mahil, Dr. Mohammed Mansour | HS UG-Intro |
Lab Remote |
Physics | ||
Conservation of Linear Momentum | Alya Alghfeli | HS UG-Intro |
Lab | Physics | ||
Conservation of Linear Momentum | Ahmed Alblooshi | Other UG-Intro |
Lab | Physics | ||
Conservation of linear momentum | Saeed Almulla | HS UG-Intro |
Lab HW Other |
Physics | ||
Collision exp | raja mohammed | UG-Intro | Lab Remote |
Physics | ||
Conservation of linear momentum | Esmaeil Ahmad | HS UG-Adv UG-Intro |
MC Lab Discuss HW |
Physics | ||
Linear momentum | Mohamed Yaseen Alwattar | UG-Adv HS UG-Intro |
Lab | Mathematics Physics |
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Colission Lab colorado | Omar Kardosha | UG-Intro | Lab | Physics | ||
Activity in Mechanics (Collisions) | Lowell Gabunilas | UG-Intro HS |
Lab | Physics | ||
Guided Discovery (Chinese/English) for Freshman University Physics: 3. Energy & Momentum | Janet Chen (陳衫豫), Aien Charity Grace White (白愛恩), Jonathon David White (白小明) | UG-Intro | Guided Lab Remote |
Physics | ||
One- and Two-Dimensional Collisions - Concepts Practice | Yaser Alosh | HS UG-Intro |
HW Remote Guided Discuss |
Physics | ||
MS and HS TEK to Sim Alignment | Elyse Zimmer | HS MS |
Other | Physics Chemistry Biology |
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Conservation of Linear Momentum | Omar Adwan | UG-Intro | Remote Lab |
Physics | ||
collision in one and two dimensions | Nawal Nayfeh | HS UG-Intro |
Lab Remote |
Physics | ||
2D PHET Collision Lab in Excel | Linda McLemore | HS | Lab Remote Guided HW |
Physics | ||
Mapping of PhET and IBDP Physics | Jaya Ramchandani | HS | Other | Physics | ||
Virtual Momentum Activity | Jessica Leiken | HS UG-Intro |
Lab | Physics | ||
Collaborative Assessment - Randomize Assessment | John Weisenfeld | HS | MC | Physics | ||
PhET Simulations Aligned for AP Physics C | Roberta Tanner | HS | Other | Physics | ||
Laboratório de Colisão - Conservação de momento (3a lei de Newton) | Tiago Almeida | HS | Lab | Physics | ||
Momentum Lab | Jim Hewitt | MS | Lab | Physics | ||
Analyzing 2D Collisions | Aubry Farenholtz | HS UG-Intro |
Guided Demo Lab |
Physics | ||
Discovering the conservation of momentum | Jonathan Carlson | HS | Guided HW Lab |
Physics | ||
Virtual Collisions Lab | Danny Diamond | HS | Lab Guided HW |
Physics | ||
Collision Into Activity | Tim Woolgar | MS HS |
Guided | Physics | ||
Level 1 - Momentum Lab by Stephen N. Clontz, M. Ed. | Stephen N. Clontz, M. Ed. | HS MS K-5 |
Demo Lab Guided HW |
Physics Other |
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2D Collision Lab | Amy Hayes | HS | Lab | |||
Collision Lab | Elizabeth Hobbs | UG-Intro | Lab | |||
Momentum and Collisions | Peter Malecki | HS | Lab | Physics | ||
Collisions | Jeremy Thomas | K-5 | Lab | |||
Collision investigation lab | Steve Banasiak - HF physics team | HS | Lab | |||
Momentum and Center of Mass | Sarah Stanhope | HS | Lab | |||
Momentum Lab | Stephanie Givinsky | HS | Lab | |||
PREPARATORIA: Alineación de PhET con programas de la DGB México (2017) |
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Diana López | HS UG-Intro |
Other | Mathematics Physics Chemistry |
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大一物理引導式自我發現 (中文/英文): 能量與動量 | Janet Chen (陳衫豫), Charity Grace White (白愛恩), Jonathon David White (白小明) | UG-Intro | Guided Lab Remote |
Physics | ||
Lembar Kerja Siswa Berbasis Simulation Based Laboratory | Suritno Fayanto, Wisnu Yudha Prawira, Syahlan | HS UG-Intro Grad |
HW Lab |
Physics | ||
Estática (Atividades) nos OA's do PhET | Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales | HS Other UG-Intro MS |
Discuss Demo Other Guided HW |
Earth Science Physics Other |
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Dinâmica (Atividades) nos OA's do PhET | Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales | UG-Adv HS Grad Other MS |
Other Lab HW Guided |
Earth Science Other Physics |
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Pêndulo de Newton no "Collision Lab" | Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales | HS MS |
Guided HW |
Physics Mathematics Other |
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Colisões Elásticas no "Collision Lab" | Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales | MS Other HS |
Guided HW Other |
Earth Science Physics Other |
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Colisões Inelásticas no "Collision Lab" | Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales | HS Other MS |
Guided Other HW |
Other Physics Mathematics |
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Momento Linear no "Collision Lab" | Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales | MS Other HS |
Guided Other HW |
Physics Mathematics Earth Science Other |
Windows | Macintosh | Linux |
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Microsoft Windows XP/Vista/7/8.1/10 Macromedia Flash 9 or later
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OS X 10.9.5 or later Macromedia Flash 9 or later
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Macromedia Flash 9 or later
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Design Team | Third-party Libraries | Thanks To |
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