Collisions & Momentum Lab
Crash two carts together and compare momentum and kinetic energy before and after.
| Before | After | Change |
|---|
Momentum conserved?–
Energy lost–
What you can learn
- Total momentum is conserved in every collision without outside forces.
- Kinetic energy is conserved only in perfectly elastic collisions.
- In a perfectly inelastic collision the carts stick together and lose the most kinetic energy.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between elastic and inelastic collisions?
Both conserve momentum, but elastic collisions also conserve kinetic energy. Inelastic collisions turn some kinetic energy into heat, sound or deformation.
Where does the lost kinetic energy go?
Into other forms such as heat and sound, and into changing the shape of the objects.