Collision Lab

Collision Lab Screenshot
  • Collisions
  • Momentum
  • Velocity

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

Teacher Tips

Download teacher tips PDF Overview of sim controls, model simplifications, and insights into student thinking ( PDF ).

Teacher-Submitted Activities

Concept questions for Physics using PhET (Inquiry Based) A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. This contribution was designed by PhET. Trish Loeblein HS
UG-Intro
MC Physics
Algebra-based Physics Semester one lessons, clicker questions, and schedule in pdf (Inquiry Based) A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. This contribution was designed by PhET. Trish Loeblein HS
UG-Intro
Demo
HW
Lab
Physics
Collision Lab : Introduction to One Dimension collisions A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. This contribution was designed by PhET. Patricia Loeblein HS
UG-Intro
HW
Lab
Physics
Collision Lab Basics A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. Brett Moser HS
MS
Guided
Lab
Physics
PhET Collision Lab A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. Wendy Adams HS
UG-Intro
Lab
PhET Collisions A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. Brent Olyowski HS Lab
How do PhET simulations fit in my middle school program? This contribution was designed by PhET. Sarah Borenstein MS Other Biology
Earth Science
Physics
Chemistry
Alignment of PhET sims with NGSS This contribution was designed by PhET. Trish Loeblein updated by Diana López HS
MS
Other Earth Science
Biology
Physics
Chemistry
PhET Sims Aligned to the Chemistry Curriculum This contribution was designed by PhET. Julia Chamberlain UG-Intro
HS
Other Chemistry
Conservation of Linear Momentum Omar Adwan UG-Intro Lab
Remote
Physics
collision in one and two dimensions Nawal Nayfeh HS
UG-Intro
Remote
Lab
Physics
2D PHET Collision Lab in Excel Linda McLemore HS HW
Lab
Guided
Remote
Physics
Mapping of PhET and IBDP Physics Jaya Ramchandani HS Other Physics
MS and HS TEK to Sim Alignment Elyse Zimmer MS
HS
Other Biology
Physics
Chemistry
Virtual Momentum Activity Jessica Leiken HS
UG-Intro
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 HS
UG-Intro
Guided
Lab
Demo
Physics
Discovering the conservation of momentum Jonathan Carlson HS HW
Lab
Guided
Physics
Virtual Collisions Lab Danny Diamond HS HW
Lab
Guided
Physics
Collision Into Activity Tim Woolgar HS
MS
Guided Physics
Level 1 - Momentum Lab by Stephen N. Clontz, M. Ed. Stephen N. Clontz, M. Ed. HS
MS
K-5
HW
Guided
Demo
Lab
Other
Physics
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
PREPARATORIA: Alineación de PhET con programas de la DGB México (2017) This contribution was designed by PhET. Diana López HS
UG-Intro
Other Mathematics
Chemistry
Physics
Lembar Kerja Siswa Berbasis Simulation Based Laboratory Suritno Fayanto, Wisnu Yudha Prawira, Syahlan HS
Grad
UG-Intro
HW
Lab
Physics
Estática (Atividades) nos OA's do PhET Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales MS
UG-Intro
Other
HS
Other
Demo
Guided
HW
Discuss
Other
Physics
Earth Science
Dinâmica (Atividades) nos OA's do PhET Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales UG-Adv
Other
HS
MS
Grad
Guided
Lab
Other
HW
Other
Earth Science
Physics
Pêndulo de Newton no "Collision Lab" Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales MS
HS
Guided
HW
Other
Physics
Mathematics
Colisões Elásticas no "Collision Lab" Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales Other
HS
MS
Guided
Other
HW
Other
Earth Science
Physics
Colisões Inelásticas no "Collision Lab" Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales MS
Other
HS
HW
Guided
Other
Mathematics
Physics
Other
Momento Linear no "Collision Lab" Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales Other
MS
HS
HW
Guided
Other
Earth Science
Physics
Other
Mathematics

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Design Team Third-party Libraries Thanks To
  • Mike Dubson (design + development)
  • Trish Loeblein
  • Kathy Perkins
  • Mindy Gratny (interviews)
  • Jon Olson
  • Sam Reid
  • Ariel Paul (interviews)
  • ASwing