Collision Lab
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About
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?
For Teachers
Teacher Tips
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Overview of sim controls, model simplifications, and insights into student thinking ( PDF ). |
Teacher-Submitted Activities
| Title |
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Authors | Level | Type | Subject |
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| Algebra-based Physics Semester one lessons, clicker questions, and schedule in pdf (Inquiry Based) |
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Trish Loeblein | HS UG-Intro |
Lab Demo HW |
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 | HS | Other | Earth Science Physics Chemistry Biology |
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| How do PhET simulations fit in my middle school program? |
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Sarah Borenstein | MS | Other | Physics Earth Science Chemistry Biology |
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| PhET Sims Aligned to the Chemistry Curriculum |
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Julia Chamberlain | HS UG-Intro |
Other | Chemistry | |
| Analyzing 2D Collisions | Aubry Farenholtz | HS UG-Intro |
Lab Demo Guided |
Physics | ||
| Discovering the conservation of momentum | Jonathan Carlson | HS | Lab Guided HW |
Physics | ||
| PhET Simulations Aligned for AP Physics C | Roberta Tanner | HS | Other | Physics | ||
| MS and HS TEK to Sim Alignment | Elyse Zimmer | MS HS |
Other | Chemistry Physics Biology |
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| Virtual Collisions Lab | Danny Diamond | HS | HW Lab Guided |
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. | MS K-5 HS |
Lab Demo HW 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 | |||
| Lembar Kerja Siswa Berbasis Simulation Based Laboratory | Suritno Fayanto, Wisnu Yudha Prawira, Syahlan | UG-Intro Grad HS |
Lab HW |
Physics | ||
| Simulações no Ensino de Fisica | Carla Tavares | HS | HW Guided Lab MC Other Discuss Demo |
Earth Science Physics Astronomy |
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| Laboratório de Colisão - Conservação de momento (3a lei de Newton) | Tiago Almeida | HS | Lab | Physics |
Translations
Related Simulations
Software Requirements
| 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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Credits
| Design Team | Third-party Libraries | Thanks To |
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