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Collision Lab
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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 |
Lab HW Demo |
Physics |
| Collision Lab : Introduction to One Dimension collisions |
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Patricia Loeblein | UG-Intro HS |
HW Lab |
Physics |
| Collision Lab Basics |
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Brett Moser | MS HS |
Lab Guided |
Physics | |
| PhET Collision Lab |
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Wendy Adams | UG-Intro HS |
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 | MS HS |
Other | Chemistry Biology Earth Science Physics |
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| How do PhET simulations fit in my middle school program? |
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Sarah Borenstein | MS | Other | Chemistry Biology Earth Science Physics |
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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 | HW Remote Guided |
Physics | ||
| Physics Lab Worksheet Momentum.docx | Taha Salah | HS | Lab | Physics | ||
| 2-d collisions | Yau-Jong Twu | UG-Intro HS |
Remote Lab HW Guided |
Physics | ||
| linear momentum and collisions | Alya mohamed | UG-Intro HS |
HW Lab |
Physics | ||
| Conservation of Linear Momentum | Ahmed Alblooshi | HS UG-Intro Other |
Guided Lab |
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 |
HW Other Lab |
Physics | ||
| Collision exp | raja mohammed | UG-Intro | Lab Remote |
Physics | ||
| Conservation of linear momentum | Esmaeil Ahmad | UG-Intro HS UG-Adv |
HW Lab MC Discuss |
Physics | ||
| Linear momentum | Mohamed Yaseen Alwattar | UG-Intro HS UG-Adv |
Lab | Physics Mathematics |
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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 | Remote Guided Lab |
Physics | ||
| One- and Two-Dimensional Collisions - Concepts Practice | Yaser Alosh | HS UG-Intro |
Discuss HW Remote Guided |
Physics | ||
| MS and HS TEK to Sim Alignment | Elyse Zimmer | HS MS |
Other | Physics Biology Chemistry |
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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 |
Remote Lab |
Physics | ||
| 2D PHET Collision Lab in Excel | Linda McLemore | HS | Guided HW Lab Remote |
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 |
Lab Demo Guided |
Physics | ||
| Discovering the conservation of momentum | Jonathan Carlson | HS | Lab Guided HW |
Physics | ||
| Virtual Collisions Lab | Danny Diamond | HS | Guided HW Lab |
Physics | ||
| Collision Into Activity | Tim Woolgar | HS MS |
Guided | Physics | ||
| Level 1 - Momentum Lab by Stephen N. Clontz, M. Ed. | Stephen N. Clontz, M. Ed. | K-5 HS MS |
Lab HW Demo Guided |
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 | UG-Intro HS |
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 | Lab Remote Guided |
Physics | ||
| Lembar Kerja Siswa Berbasis Simulation Based Laboratory | Suritno Fayanto, Wisnu Yudha Prawira, Syahlan | Grad UG-Intro HS |
HW Lab |
Physics | ||
| Estática (Atividades) nos OA's do PhET | Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales | HS MS UG-Intro Other |
Discuss Guided HW Other Demo |
Earth Science Physics Other |
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| Dinâmica (Atividades) nos OA's do PhET | Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales | HS Grad MS UG-Adv Other |
Other Guided Lab HW |
Physics Earth Science Other |
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| Pêndulo de Newton no "Collision Lab" | Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales | MS HS |
HW Guided |
Other Mathematics Physics |
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| Colisões Elásticas no "Collision Lab" | Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales | HS MS Other |
Guided HW Other |
Other Physics Earth Science |
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| Colisões Inelásticas no "Collision Lab" | Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales | MS HS Other |
HW Other Guided |
Mathematics Physics Other |
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| Momento Linear no "Collision Lab" | Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales | Other HS MS |
HW Guided Other |
Earth Science Other Mathematics Physics |
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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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