Conservation of Momentum Simulation

Purpose: The purpose of this lab is to observe conservation of momentum in collisions.

Background: Momentum is mass (inertia) in motion. The mathematical equation is: p = mv,
where p is momentum, m is mass and v is velocity. Just like velocity, momentum is a vector
quantity that has both magnitude and direction.
In this simulation you will learn about the fundamental principle of physics called conservation
of momentum which states that the momentum of a system remains constant in the absence of
external forces. In this activity, you will be dealing with a simple system of two balls that
collide with each other. For a collision between two objects, the total momentum before the
collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision.
Elastic Collisions: defined as one in which there is no loss of kinetic energy
Inelastic Collisions: defined as one in which part of the kinetic energy is converted into some
other form

Instructions:
Go to https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/collision-lab/latest/collision-lab_en.html
Click on the Explore 1D module.
*Note: It is helpful to run all simulations in slow motion.
Part 1: Elastic Collisions
Simulation 1
Click on More Data. Set the mass of both balls to 1.0 kg each. For ball 1, set the velocity to 1
m/s. Set the velocity of ball 2 to zero. Leave the positions as the defaults. In the gray box, click
on Momentum, which shows the momentum vectors for each ball. Also, click on Values and
Kinetic Energy. Set the elasticity to 100%. Make sure “REFLECTIVE BORDER” is OFF!!
Click on the play button. Fill in the data below for before and after the collision. To determine
the change in momentum for each ball subtract its momentum before the collision from the
its momentum after the collision. (Don’t forget momentum is a vector quantity.)
Momentum Momentum Change in Velocity Velocity Kinetic Kinetic
Before After Momentum Before After Energy Energy
(kg m/s) (kg m/s) (kg m/s) (m/s) (m/s) Before After
(J) (J)
Ball 1 1.00 0 -1 1 0
Ball 2 0 1.00 1 0 1
Total 1.00 1.00 0 0.50 0.50
System
 1. What happens to ball 1 after it strikes ball 2?
Ball one comes to stop, however ball 2 is forced to move in the direction ball one was
towards.
2. Was momentum conserved in this simple system of two billiard balls?
Yes
3. Did the kinetic energy of the system change? Why is this?
No, the energy of ball one was transferred over to ball 2.
Simulation 2
Reset the sim. Now, set the mass of ball 1 to 0.5 kg and ball 2 to 1.5 kg. Keep all other
parameters the same as in simulation 1 (start ball 2 at rest). Make sure “REFLECTIVE
BORDER” is OFF!! Click the play button. Record data below. (Keep in mind that momentum is
a vector, so pay attention to positive and negative values.)
Momentum Momentum Change in Velocity Velocity Kinetic Kinetic
Before After Momentum Before After Energy Energy
(kg m/s) (kg m/s) (kg m/s) (m/s) (m/s) Before After
(J) (J)
Ball 1 0.5 0.25 -0.25 1.00 0.50
Ball 2 0 0.75 0.75 0 0.50
Total 0.5 1.00 0.50 0.25 0.35
System

4. Describe what happens once ball 1 strikes ball 2.

Ball one bounces back, maintaining some velocity.
5. Why are the momentum and velocity of ball 1 negative numbers?
The ball is moving towards the left after the collision.
6. Was momentum conserved for the system of two balls?
Yes

7. Did the kinetic energy of the system change? Why is this?

No, the energy was transferred from ball to two

Simulation 3
Reset the sim. Keep the mass of ball 1 at 0.5 kg and always start it with a velocity of 1 m/s.
Change the mass of ball 2 to the values listed in the table below and always start it at rest.
Maintain 100% elasticity. Make sure “REFLECTIVE BORDER” is OFF!! Run the simulation in
each case and fill in the table. BE SURE TO RESET AFTER EACH RUN!
 Ball 2 Total Momentum Momentum Total Velocity Velocity
Mass momentum of Ball 1 after of Ball 2 Momentum of Ball 1 of Ball 2
(kg) Before (kg m/s) after (kg m/s) After after (m/s) after
(kg m/s) (kg m/s) (m/s)

0.5 0.25 -0.25 0.5 0.25 -0.50 1.00

1.0 1.0 0.17 0.67 0.84 0.33 0.67
1.5 -0.25 -0.63 0.38 0.25 -1.25 0.25
2.0 -0.5 -0.70 0.20 -0.50 -1.40 0.10
2.5 -0.45 -0.75 0.00 -0.75 -1.50 0.00
3.0 -1.00 -0.79 -0.21 -1.00 -1.57 -0.07

8. With an increase in the mass of Ball 2, the velocity of Ball 2 _____________ after the
collision.
a. increases
b. decreases

9. With an increase in the mass of Ball 2, the speed and momentum (magnitude only) of
Ball 1 ____________after the collision
a. increase
b. decrease

Unfortunately, in this simulation, we are unable to increase the mass of ball 2 beyond 3 kg.
Based upon the trends of data in the table above, answer the following question.
10. Imagine Ball 2 is the Earth (6 × 1024 kg). Extend the situation to an elastic collision with
a ball bouncing off a rigid floor (the Earth). The magnitudes of momentum and velocity
of Ball 1 after the collision should be ____________________ the momentum and
velocity magnitudes just before the collision.
a. essentially equal to
b. more than
c. less than

Part 2: Inelastic Collisions

Simulation 4
Reset the simulation. Set both masses to 1.5 kg. Set the elasticity to 0% (inelastic). Set the
velocity of ball 1 to 1 m/s and the velocity of ball 2 to zero. Make sure “REFLECTIVE
BORDER” is OFF!! Run the sim and fill in the table.
 Momentum Momentum Change in Velocity Velocity Kinetic Kinetic
Before After Momentum Before After Energy Energy
(kg m/s) (kg m/s) (kg m/s) (m/s) (m/s) Before After
(J) (J)
Ball 1 1.50 0.75 0.75 1.00 0.50
Ball 2 0 0.75 0.75 0 0.50
Total 1.50 1.5 1.5 0.75 0.38
System

Reset the simulation. Set the mass of ball 1 to 1.5 kg and the mass of ball 2 to 3 kg. Set the
elasticity to 0% (inelastic). Set the velocity of ball 1 to 1 m/s and the velocity of ball 2 to zero.
Make sure “REFLECTIVE BORDER” is OFF!! Run the sim and fill the table.
Momentum Momentum Change in Velocity Velocity Kinetic Kinetic
Before After Momentum Before After Energy Energy
(kg m/s) (kg m/s) (kg m/s) (m/s) (m/s) Before After
(J) (J)
Ball 1 1.50 0.50 1.00 1.00 0.33
Ball 2 0 1.00 1.00 0 0.33
Total 1.50 1.5 2.00 0.75 0.25
System

11. Describe the two-ball system's motion after both inelastic collisions.
Ball One is pushing a much heavier ball two with limited energy it was given

12. For both scenarios, was total momentum conserved?

Yes
13. Did the kinetic energy of the system change? Why is this?
Yes, the kinetic energy changed from a result of ball one transferring its energy over to ball
two which is a heavier ball, slowing them both down.

Closing Questions:
14. Explain how conservation of momentum relates to Newton’s third law of motion. (Hint:
the concept of impulse is important here.)
The conservation of momentum is where the momentum remains constant, it does not
change and the third law of Newton states that when two objects interact with each other,
such colliding, they will be equal in magnitude while opposing each other. The momentum
and force basically remain constant and equal even while opposing each other.

15. Picture two astronauts holding onto one another in space. Their initial velocity with
respect to each other is zero.
a. If one astronaut pushes the other away, what is the total momentum of both
astronauts combined?

b. If one astronaut has twice as much mass as the other, what can you say about the
velocity of the less massive one compared to the other after they push off each
other?