Collision Lab
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
Keywords
Teacher Tips
Overview of sim controls, model simplifications, and insights into student thinking ( PDF ). |
Teacher-Submitted Activities
Title | Authors | Level | Type | Subject | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Algebra-based Physics Semester one lessons, clicker questions, and schedule in pdf (Inquiry Based) | Trish Loeblein | HS UG-Intro |
HW Demo Lab |
Physics | ||
Collision Lab : Introduction to One Dimension collisions | Patricia Loeblein | HS UG-Intro |
HW Lab |
Physics | ||
Collision Lab Basics | Brett Moser | HS MS |
Lab Guided |
Physics | ||
PhET Collision Lab | Wendy Adams | HS UG-Intro |
Lab | |||
PhET Collisions | Brent Olyowski | HS | Lab | |||
PhET Sims Aligned to the Chemistry Curriculum | Julia Chamberlain | HS UG-Intro |
Other | Chemistry | ||
Alignment of PhET sims with NGSS | Trish Loeblein | HS | Other | Biology Chemistry Earth Science Physics |
||
How do PhET simulations fit in my middle school program? | Sarah Borenstein | MS | Other | Biology Physics Chemistry Earth Science |
||
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 | ||
MS and HS TEK to Sim Alignment | Elyse Zimmer | HS MS |
Other | Physics Chemistry Biology |
||
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 |
Demo Guided Lab |
Physics | ||
Discovering the conservation of momentum | Jonathan Carlson | HS | Guided HW Lab |
Physics | ||
Virtual Collisions Lab | Danny Diamond | HS | Guided Lab HW |
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. | K-5 HS MS |
HW Demo Guided Lab |
Physics Other |
||
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 | Grad HS UG-Intro |
Lab HW |
Physics | ||
Estática (Atividades) nos OA's do PhET | Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales | Other HS MS UG-Intro |
Other Discuss Demo Guided HW |
Other Earth Science Physics |
||
Dinâmica (Atividades) nos OA's do PhET | Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales | HS UG-Adv Grad MS Other |
HW Other Lab Guided |
Physics Earth Science Other |
||
Pêndulo de Newton no "Collision Lab" | Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales | MS HS |
HW Guided |
Other Physics Mathematics |
||
Colisões Elásticas no "Collision Lab" | Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales | MS Other HS |
Other Guided HW |
Physics Other Earth Science |
||
Colisões Inelásticas no "Collision Lab" | Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales | Other HS MS |
HW Guided Other |
Other Physics Mathematics |
||
Momento Linear no "Collision Lab" | Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales | MS HS Other |
Guided Other HW |
Other Earth Science Physics Mathematics |
Windows | Macintosh | Linux |
---|---|---|
Microsoft Windows XP/Vista/7/8.1/10 Macromedia Flash 9 or later
|
OS X 10.9.5 or later Macromedia Flash 9 or later
|
Macromedia Flash 9 or later
|
Design Team | Third-party Libraries | Thanks To |
---|---|---|
|
|