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 | UG-Intro HS |
Demo HW Lab |
Physics | ||
Collision Lab : Introduction to One Dimension collisions | Patricia Loeblein | UG-Intro HS |
HW Lab |
Physics | ||
Collision Lab Basics | Brett Moser | MS HS |
Guided Lab |
Physics | ||
PhET Collision Lab | Wendy Adams | HS UG-Intro |
Lab | |||
PhET Collisions | Brent Olyowski | HS | Lab | |||
How do PhET simulations fit in my middle school program? | Sarah Borenstein | MS | Other | Earth Science Biology Chemistry Physics |
||
Alignment of PhET sims with NGSS | Trish Loeblein | HS | Other | Earth Science Physics Biology Chemistry |
||
PhET Sims Aligned to the Chemistry Curriculum | Julia Chamberlain | UG-Intro HS |
Other | Chemistry | ||
MS and HS TEK to Sim Alignment | Elyse Zimmer | MS HS |
Other | Chemistry Physics Biology |
||
Mapping of PhET and IBDP Physics | Jaya Ramchandani | HS | Other | Physics | ||
Virtual Momentum Activity | Jessica Leiken | UG-Intro HS |
Lab | Physics | ||
Collaborative Assessment - Randomize Assessment | John Weisenfeld | HS | MC | Physics | ||
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 | UG-Intro HS |
Guided Demo Lab |
Physics | ||
Discovering the conservation of momentum | Jonathan Carlson | HS | HW Lab Guided |
Physics | ||
Virtual Collisions Lab | Danny Diamond | HS | Lab HW 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. | HS MS K-5 |
Lab HW Guided Demo |
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 | UG-Intro HS Grad |
Lab HW |
Physics | ||
Estática (Atividades) nos OA's do PhET | Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales | Other HS UG-Intro MS |
HW Discuss Guided Demo Other |
Earth Science Physics Other |
||
Dinâmica (Atividades) nos OA's do PhET | Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales | Other UG-Adv MS HS Grad |
HW Guided Lab Other |
Earth Science Physics Other |
||
Pêndulo de Newton no "Collision Lab" | Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales | MS HS |
Guided HW |
Other Mathematics Physics |
||
Colisões Elásticas no "Collision Lab" | Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales | MS HS Other |
HW Other Guided |
Earth Science Physics Other |
||
Colisões Inelásticas no "Collision Lab" | Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales | HS Other MS |
Other HW Guided |
Mathematics Physics Other |
||
Momento Linear no "Collision Lab" | Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales | Other HS MS |
Other HW Guided |
Mathematics Physics Other Earth Science |
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 |
---|---|---|
|
|