UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY,

Taxila

APPLIED PHYSICS
(LAB REPORT 04)
SUBMITTED BY:
Name: MUHAMMAD NAJAM UL HASSAN
Registration No. 20-ME-4
Section: D
Subject: LAB Applied Physics
Department: Mechanical Engineering

SUBMITTED TO:
DR. KULSOOM RAHIM
 Lab 6
INTRODUCTION:
Collision means two objects coming into contact with each other for
a very short period. In other words, collision is an interaction
between two masses for a very short interval wherein the
momentum and energy of the colliding masses changes.
There are two types of collosion:
1: Elastic collosion
2: In Elastic collosion
Generally, the law of conservation of momentum holds true in the
collision of two masses but there may be some collisions in which
Kinetic Energy is not conserved. Depending on the energy
conservation, conservation may be of two types:

Elastic Collision: In the elastic collision total momentum, the

total energy and the total kinetic energy are conserved. However,
the total mechanical energy is not converted into any other energy
form as the forces involved in the short interaction are conserved in
nature. Consider from the above graph two masses, m1 and m2
moving with speed u1 and u2. The speed after the collision of these
masses is v1 and v2.
 The law of conservation of momentum will give:
m1 u 1+ m2 u2=m1 v 1+ m2 v 2

 The conservation of Kinetic Energy says:

1 1 1 1
m u2 + m u 2 = m v 2 + m v 2
2 1 1 2 2 2 2 1 1 2 2 2
Inelastic Collision: In the inelastic collision, the objects stick to
each other or move in the same direction. The total kinetic energy
in this form of collision is not conserved but the total momentum
and energy are conserved. During this kind of collision, the energy
is transformed into other energy forms like heat and light. Since
during the phenomenon the two masses follow the law of
conservation of momentum and move in the same direction with
same the same speed v we have:
m 1 u 1+ m2 u2=( m 1 +m 2 ) v

m1 u1 +m2 u2
v=
m 1 +m2

 The kinetic energy of the masses before the collision is:

1 2 1 2
K.E= 2 m1 u1 + 2 m2 u 2

 While kinetic energy after the collision is:

1 1
K.E = m v 2+ m v 2
2 1 1 2 2 2

But according to the law of conservation of energy:

1 1 1 1
m 1 u21 + m 2 u 22= m1 v 21 + m 2 v 22+ Q
2 2 2 2

‘Q’ here is the change in energy that results in the production of

heat or sound.

The Coefficient of Restitution:

The coefficient of restitution is the ratio between the relative
velocity of colliding masses before interaction to the relative velocity
of the masses after the collision. Represented by ‘e’, the coefficient
of restitution depends on the material of the colliding masses.
 For elastic collisions,
e=1
 for inelastic collisions,
e = 0.
 The value of e > 0 or e < 1 in all other kinds of forceful
interactions.

NOTE: If we discuss the K.E of the system that the final and
initial values of energies of the system are same. But not the whole
time during collosion.

Experimental Procedure:
 First we should go to the PhET website.
 From where we open simulations for physics and we go into the
collision experiment.
 We open the intro of the simulation.
 We fixed the elasticity to 100% in order to perform experiment for
elastic collision.
 We assumed some masses of the balls and initial velocities before the
collision and calculated the corresponding momentum before collision.
 Then we started the simulation.
 And noted the values of the velocities of the balls after collision.
 And then calculated the momentums of the balls after the collisions
and verify the law of conservation of the momentum.
 Similarly, for inelastic collision we fixed the value of elasticity to 0 %.
 The same procedure we repeated for inelastic collision and collected
the data given bellow.
Experimental Data:

    Befo Collisi         After Collisi    

re on on
Mas Mas Velo Velo Mome Mome Tot Mas Mas Velo Velo Mome Mome Tot
s s city city ntum ntum al s s city city ntum ntum al
(m1 (m2 (v1) (V2) (P1) (P2) K.E (m1 (m2 (v1) (V2) (P1) (P2) K.E
) ) ) )
1 1.4 2 -1 2 -1.4 2.7 1 1.4 -1.5 1.5 -1.5 2.1 2.7
2 2.4 2 -1 4 -2.4 5.2 2 2.4 -1.27 1.73 -2.55 4.15 5.2
1.2 1.2 2 -1 2.4 -1.2 3 1.2 1.2 -1 2 -1.2 2.4 3
2.2 2.2 2 -1 4.4 -2.2 5.5 2.2 2.2 -1 2 -2.2 4.4 5.5
1.4 1 2 -1 2.8 -1 3.3 1.4 1 -0.5 2.5 -0.7 2.5 3.3
2.8 2 2 -1 5.6 -2 6.6 2.8 2 -0.5 2.5 -1.4 5 6.6

For complete Inelastic Collision

    Befor Collision         After Collision    
e
Mass Mass Veloci Veloci Momen Momen Tota Mass Mass Veloci Veloci Momen Momen Tota
(m1) (m2) ty (v1) ty (V2) tum (P1) tum (P2) l K.E (m1) (m2) ty (v1) ty (V2) tum (P1) tum (P2) l K.E
1 1.4 2 -1 2 -1.4 2.7 1 1.4 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.35 0.08
2 2.4 2 -1 4 -2.4 5.2 2 2.4 0.36 0.36 0.73 0.87 0.29
1.2 1.2 2 -1 2.4 -1.2 3 1.2 1.2 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.3
2.2 2.2 2 -1 4.4 -2.2 5.5 2.2 2.2 0.5 0.5 1.1 1.1 0.55
1.2 1 2 -1 2.4 -1 2.9 1.2 1 0.64 0.64 0.76 0.64 0.45
2.2 2 2 -1 4.4 -2 5.4 2.2 2 0.57 0.57 1.26 1.14 0.69

QUESTION AND ANSWERS

1: In our experiment, can we achieve a completely elastic
collision? a completely inelastic collision?
In the physical world perfectly elastic collision cannot happens
truly .this is because of the small amount of energy is lost whenever a
object collide. Only at the subatomic levels there exists a perfect
elastic collision because particle virtually lost no collision when they
collide. Since our lab we are dealing with the balls which are not
micro particles so they lost some of their kinetic energy due to which
collision doesn’t remains perfectly elastic.
2: In an inelastic collision in a closed system, can some of the total
momentum be lost? Some of the kinetic energy?
During inelastic collision the total momentum of the system remains
constant because the loss of the momentum of one object will be equal
to the gain of the momentum by other object and in this way the total
momentum of the system will remains same in inelastic collision but
the kinetic energy doesn’t remains same because while the collision
some of the kinetic energy is converted into the other forms of energy
and hence some of the kinetic energy lost
3: If kinetic energy is lost, where does it go? Does conservation of
energy apply?
Yes, some of the kinetic energy lost while the collision and the lost kinetic
energy is converted into the other forms of the energy like into sound energy,
work done against friction force and many other different forms of energies. But
the law of conservation of the energy is still valid because by adding all these
energies gives us the result equal to the total energy of the system before
collision.

Data Analysis
Part A
 Can we achieve total elastic and inelastic collision?
In our experiment it is possible to achieve the total elastic and
the total inelastic collision but the conditions were for both
 different. In elastic collision no kinetic energy were lost while
performing inelastic collision maximum kinetic energy were
lost.
 Loss of kinetic energy and momentum in inelastic
collision?
The kinetic energy lost during inelastic collision and the lost
amount of energy is used to deform the object and other
different forms of energy like sound energy and work done
against friction force. While the momentum of the system
remains conserved.
 Loss of kinetic energy and momentum in inelastic
collision?
During elastic collision neither energy was lost nor the
momentum. Both kinetic energy and momentum remains
conserved in elastic collision.
 Law of conservation of energy applies if the kinetic
energy is lost?
Yes.
When the kinetic energy of the system losses, it goes to the
other forms of energy like heat energy sound energy and many
other forms of energies. But the total energy of the system
remains conserved.

Part B
Inelastic Collision Lab
    Befor Collision         After Collision    
e
Mass Mass Veloci Veloci Momen Momen Tota Mass Mass Veloci Veloci Momen Momen Tota
(m1) (m2) ty (v1) ty (V2) tum (P1) tum (P2) l K.E (m1) (m2) ty (v1) ty (V2) tum (P1) tum (P2) l K.E
1 1.4 2 -1 2 -1.4 2.7 1 1.4 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.35 0.08
2 2.4 2 -1 4 -2.4 5.2 2 2.4 0.36 0.36 0.73 0.87 0.29
1.2 1.2 2 -1 2.4 -1.2 3 1.2 1.2 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.3
2.2 2.2 2 -1 4.4 -2.2 5.5 2.2 2.2 0.5 0.5 1.1 1.1 0.55
1.2 1 2 -1 2.4 -1 2.9 1.2 1 0.64 0.64 0.76 0.64 0.45
2.2 2 2 -1 4.4 -2 5.4 2.2 2 0.57 0.57 1.26 1.14 0.69

 Did Momentum Conserved:

Yes Momentum conserved;
From the above table it is clear to see that the total momentum before
collision is equal to the total momentum after collision.
 Time uncertainty
As the experiment was perform virtually so there is no time uncertainty in
calculations
 Conclusion:
When we consider collision to be inelastic so some of its kinetic energy
goes lost and converted into other forms of energy but the total energy of
the system remains constant similarly the momentum of the system also
remains conserved.

 Greater change in kinetic energy

According to the data
Trail 1+2: no mass disks on object 1, 4 mass disks on object 2;
Trail 3+4: 2 mass disks on object 1, 2 mass disks on object 2;
Trail 5+6: 2 mass disks on object 1, no mass disks on object 2;

CALCULATIONS:
    Befor Collision         After Collision    
e
Mass Mass Veloci Veloci Momen Momen Tota Mass Mass Veloci Veloci Momen Momen Tota
(m1) (m2) ty (v1) ty (V2) tum (P1) tum (P2) l K.E (m1) (m2) ty (v1) ty (V2) tum (P1) tum (P2) l K.E
1 1.4 2 -1 2 -1.4 2.7 1 1.4 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.35 0.08
2 2.4 2 -1 4 -2.4 5.2 2 2.4 0.36 0.36 0.73 0.87 0.29
 1.2 1.2 2 -1 2.4 -1.2 3 1.2 1.2 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.3
2.2 2.2 2 -1 4.4 -2.2 5.5 2.2 2.2 0.5 0.5 1.1 1.1 0.55
1.2 1 2 -1 2.4 -1 2.9 1.2 1 0.64 0.64 0.76 0.64 0.45
2.2 2 2 -1 4.4 -2 5.4 2.2 2 0.57 0.57 1.26 1.14 0.69

 Reading 1;
 Change in kinetic energy = 2.7-0.08=2.62J
 Reading 2;
 Change in kinetic energy = 5.2-0.29=4.91J
 Reading 3;
 Change in kinetic energy = 3-0.3=2.7J
 Reading 4;
 Change in kinetic energy = 5.5-0.55=4.95J
 Reading 5;
 Change in kinetic energy = 2.9-0.45=2.45J
 Reading 6;
 Change in kinetic energy = 5.4-0.69=4.71J
 Conclusion;
 Kinetic energy change will be maximum when 2 mass disks on object
1,2 mass disks on object 2;

Part C
Elastic Collision
Table of elastic collision of two objects
    Befor Collision         After Collision    
e
Mass Mass Veloci Veloci Momen Momen Tota Mass Mass Veloci Veloci Momen Momen Tota
(m1) (m2) ty (v1) ty (V2) tum (P1) tum (P2) l K.E (m1) (m2) ty (v1) ty (V2) tum (P1) tum (P2) l K.E
1 1.4 2 -1 2 -1.4 2.7 1 1.4 -1.5 1.5 -1.5 2.1 2.7
2 2.4 2 -1 4 -2.4 5.2 2 2.4 -1.27 1.73 -2.55 4.15 5.2
1.2 1.2 2 -1 2.4 -1.2 3 1.2 1.2 -1 2 -1.2 2.4 3
2.2 2.2 2 -1 4.4 -2.2 5.5 2.2 2.2 -1 2 -2.2 4.4 5.5
 1.4 1 2 -1 2.8 -1 3.3 1.4 1 -0.5 2.5 -0.7 2.5 3.3
2.8 2 2 -1 5.6 -2 6.6 2.8 2 -0.5 2.5 -1.4 5 6.6

 After collision situation

Reading 1;
After collision bodies will move in opposite direction. Velocity of object 1
decreases when 2 increase.
Reading 2;
After collision bodies will move in opposite direction. Velocity of object 1
decreases when 2 increase.
Reading 3;
After collision bodies will move in opposite direction. Velocity of object 1
decreases when 2 increase.
Reading 4;
After collision bodies will move in opposite direction. Velocity of object 1
decreases when 2 increase.
Reading 5;
After collision bodies will move in opposite direction. Velocity of object 1
decreases when 2 increase.
Reading 6;
After collision bodies will move in opposite direction. Velocity of object 1
decreases when 2 increase.
 Significance of negative sign of velocity
The negative sign of velocity indicated that the velocity of the object
opposite to that of first object.

Graph
 Graph for inelastic collision
  In inelastic collision the kinetic energy lost and converted
into the other forms of the energy but the momentum of
the system remains constant.

 Graph for inelastic collision

 While performing elastic collision the kinetic energy doesn’t lose and
also the momentum remains constant.
 Prediction of motion of balls
Yes, we correctly predicted the motion of the balls in our experiment.
 No, a straight line doesn’t fit because the kinetic energy of the
system doesn’t remain constant so it vary with time.

 Yes, we achieve the 10% loss of kinetic energy in nearly elastic

collisions as the loss of kinetic energy according to our calculations
was 9.63% which is approximately equals to 10%.
 Part D

 Ways in which our assumptions violated

There are no such systematic error in my calculations and
experiment.
 Effect of sign on momentum
As we know that the momentum is a vector quantity so it
means that it has a direction .And the momentum always has
the direction same as velocity. If the velocity of the object is
positive then the momentum is positive and vice versa.
Conclusion
In the elastic collision there is a no change in kinetic energy and
also the momentum of the system conserved and vice versa for
inelastic collision. Inelastic collision calculations performed
close to the theoretical predictions. However due to some loss
of kinetic energy there is some error in our predictions.

THE END