PASCO ME-8932, Instruction Manual

Page: 26 / 40

Smart Timer 012–06734A
22
Part B—Elastic Collisions
Set up the carts so the magnetic ends face each other, so the carts will repel each other when
they collide. Record the data in Tables 3.3 and 3.4.
Equal Masses
a. Place one cart at rest in the middle of the track. Give the other cart an initial
velocity toward the cart at rest.
b. Start both carts at opposite ends of the track at approximately the same speed.
Unequal Masses
Put two mass bars in one of the carts so that the mass of one cart (3M) is approximately
three times the mass of the other cart (1M). (Weigh the carts and record the masses in
Table 3.3.)
a. Place the 3M cart at rest in the middle of the track. Give the 1M cart an initial
velocity toward the cart at rest.
b. Start the carts at opposite ends of the track at approximately the same speed
toward each other.
c. Start cars at the same end, with the 3M car ahead of and moving slower than the
1M car.
Note: Do each experiment at least 3 times.
M
1
M
2
v
1
v
2
FINAL v
1
FINAL v
2
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Trial 4
Trial 5
Trial 6
Trial 7
Table 3.3 Data