Collision Lab PhET

In the simulation, adjust the mass and velocity of two objects and observe their collision. What happens to the total momentum of the system when two objects collide in a perfectly elastic collision?

• A) The total momentum is conserved.

• B) The total momentum is lost.

• C) The momentum doubles.

• D) The momentum is transferred from one object to the other.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS2-2

Adjust the velocity of the objects in the collision. What effect does increasing the velocity of the objects have on the kinetic energy after a perfectly elastic collision?

• A) The kinetic energy is lost.

• B) The kinetic energy is conserved.

• C) The kinetic energy increases.

• D) The kinetic energy becomes zero.

Set the mass of one object to be much larger than the other and the elasticity to 0%. What happens when a smaller object collides with a much larger object?

• A) The objects bounce apart and conserve momentum.

• B) The objects stick together, and the total momentum is conserved.

• C) The smaller object loses all its momentum.

• D) The larger object moves faster after the collision.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS2-1

NGSS.HS-PS2-2

Adjust the elasticity in the collisions and observe the difference in energy. In an inelastic collision, what happens to the kinetic energy of the system?

• A) The kinetic energy is conserved.

• B) Some kinetic energy is converted into other forms of energy (e.g., heat or deformation).

• C) The kinetic energy doubles.

• D) The kinetic energy becomes zero.

Experiment with objects of different masses colliding. What happens to the speed of a lighter object after a collision with a heavier object when momentum is conserved?

• A) The speed of the lighter object increases.

• B) The speed of the lighter object decreases.

• C) The speed of the lighter object remains the same.

• D) The lighter object stops moving.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS2-1

NGSS.HS-PS2-2

Observe the movement of two objects before and after an elastic collision. What happens to the total kinetic energy of the system after an elastic collision?

• A) The total kinetic energy increases.

• B) The total kinetic energy decreases.

• C) The total kinetic energy remains the same.

• D) The total kinetic energy becomes zero.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS3-2

Adjust the velocity and observe the effects of a collision between two objects. In a perfectly inelastic collision, what happens to the objects after the collision?

• A) The objects bounce apart.

• B) The objects stick together and move as one.

• C) The objects stop moving.

• D) The objects break into pieces.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS2-2

Experiment with different velocities of the colliding objects. What happens to the kinetic energy when two objects collide with high velocity in an inelastic collision?

• A) The kinetic energy increases.

• B) The kinetic energy is conserved.

• C) Some of the kinetic energy is transformed into other forms of energy.

• D) The kinetic energy becomes zero.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS3-4

Adjust the mass and velocity of the objects and observe the results of the collision. When two objects collide in the simulation, what happens to the momentum of the system?

• A) Momentum is always conserved.

• B) Momentum is lost during every collision.

• C) Momentum is only conserved in inelastic collisions.

• D) Momentum is conserved in elastic collisions but not in inelastic collisions.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS2-2

Change the angle of collision and observe how the objects move after the collision. What happens to the objects when they collide elastically at an angle?

• A) They move in the direction of the initial motion.

• B) They bounce off at the same angle.

• C) The direction of motion changes depending on the angle of collision.

• D) They stop moving completely.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS2-2