Physics 105

April 14, 2003

We will be carrying out collisions on the Quad in front of B&L using two large collision carts. Each collision will be videotaped for off-line analysis. Before we will carry out the collisions we will need to determine the parameters we need to record. Good record keeping is important. Each student will carry out two collisions. As part of the analysis the following questions will be asked:

• determine the momenta of the carts (+students) before and after the collision
• determine the kinetic energies of the carts (+students) before and after the collision
• determine the correlation between the total change in the kinetic energy in the collision and the deformation of the cans
• determine the correlation between the change in the momentum of a cart the deformation of the cans on that cart

In order to be able to answer these questions we need to make sure that we records the following information:

• mass of the carts
• length of the carts (for calibration in video point)
• mass of the students
• type and dimensions of cans used
• deformation of cans after the collision

The analysis of this collision experiment will be carried out during the next two weeks.

© Frank L. H. Wolfs, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA

Last updated on Tuesday, April 8, 2003 5:39