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COLLISIONS
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nteractive Physics Simulation
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How are momentum and energy exchanged in a bumper car collision?
Physicists study collisions closely to understand the nature of force, energy, and momentum. When the two
cars collide, they exert equal and opposite forces on one another. These forces change their state of
motion. Energy and momentum are transferred from one car to another in collisions. Momentum is a vector
quantity, meaning it has magnitude and direction. Momentum is conserved in each type of collision -
though it may transfer from one car to another. Some energy can be dissipated in inelastic collisions.
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his slider adjusts the mass of the car. Cars with more mass have more kinetic
Bumper Car (Blue) -
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energy and more momentum at a given speed.
Bumper Car (Red) -
This slider adjusts the mass of the car. Cars with more mass have more kinetic
energy and more momentum at a given speed.
Bumper (bouncy/locking) -
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f the bumpers are “bouncy” then the collision is said to be elastic - the two
cars bounce off each other. They might exchange kinetic energy and momentum, but the total amount of
kinetic energy and momentum remains constant through the collision. If, instead, the bumpers are “locking”
then the collision is said to be inelastic - the two cars lock together and travel as a single unit. Momentum
will still be conserved, but some of the initial kinetic energy of the system will be dissipated in the collision.
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Momentum his is a column graph of the momentum in the system - and cars - before and after the
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collision. You can use this plot to see how momentum is exchanged between the two bumper cars.
Kinetic Energy - his is a column graph of the kinetic energy in the system - and cars - before and after the
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collision. You can use this plot to see how kinetic energy is exchanged between the two bumper cars, and if
any kinetic energy is dissipated during the collision.
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A 300 kg Blue car is moving rightward at 3 m/s, about to collide with a 100 kg Red car. Adjust the
velocity of the Red car so that the total momentum of the system is 900 kg m/s. (Adjust the velocity
of the Red car so that the sum of the momentum of the Blue car and the momentum of the Red car
equal 900 kg m/s.)
A 200 kg Blue car is moving rightward at 2 m/s and collides inelastically with a 200 kg Red car.
What must the speed of the Red car be so that both cars come to a stop? (Adjust the Blue car mass
to 200 kg and its velocity to +2 m/s. Set the bumper type to Locking. Adjust the mass of the Red car
to 200 kg. Adjust the speed of the Red car so that, when they collide, both cars come to a stop.)
A 300 kg Blue car is moving rightward at 3 m/s and collides with a 100 kg Red car moving leftward.
Adjust the velocity of the Red car so that the total momentum of the system before the collision is
600 kgm/s. (Adjust the Blue car mass to 300 kg and its velocity to +3 m/s. Adjust the Red car mass
to 100 kg. Change the velocity of the Red car so that its momentum is equal to -300 kg m/s.)
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Challenge ME!
Under what conditions is kinetic energy conserved in a collision?
Can you generate a collision wherein the total momentum changes? How?
Is velocity conserved in a collision?
Do both cars always change speed by the same amount in a collision?
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What is a gravitational slingshot?
A gravitational slingshot (also known as a gravity assist) is an orbital maneuver used to send spacecraft
from Earth to the outer solar system. The basic idea is that the craft comes close to - but does not collide
with directly - a planet and exchanges some momentum through the gravitational force. The momentum of
the planet decreases slightly, and its speed changes negligibly due to its high mass. That same amount of
momentum is huge for the spacecraft, though, and so it speeds up enormously.
Which hurts more, a bounce or a thud?
Two similar-looking basketballs fall from a great height. One of the balls hits the ground and rebounds
almost as high as its initial drop height! The second ball, strangely, simply hits the ground and doesn't
bounce at all. (They must be made of different materials, despite their similarity in appearance.) Which ball
hit the ground harder? The thing to consider is: which ball had the greater change in momentum? The ball
that didn't bounce - the one that went “thud” - transferred a lot of momentum to the Earth when it came to a
stop. The ball that bounced, however, transferred even more momentum to the Earth - enough to bring it to
a stop and ALSO reverse its direction so that it flew back upwards. The bouncy ball, then, hit the Earth
harder!
How do race car drivers stay safe in accidents?
When a race car crashes, the driver is going to need to go from high speed to low by the end of the collision,
giving up all his or her momentum and kinetic energy. The question is: how do we safely dissipate the huge
amount of kinetic energy involved? One option is to have the car break apart - so that parts of it fly off with
high speed, carrying lots of kinetic energy away from the driver. You'll sometimes see cars fly apart in this
way in race crashes. Another option is to have a strong, reinforced cage around the driver, so that energy is
dissipated in bending/distorting that cage itself in a way that keeps the driver protected.
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Why does your head whip backward when struck from behind?
Your head only appears to whip backward (a phenomenon known as whiplash) - in fact, thanks to its inertia,
your head maintains the same state of motion until a force is exerted on it by your neck. Your body, of
course, which is in greater contact with the car, feels the force first, and moves forward. Your neck then
pulls your head forward, giving the appearance of the head moving backward.
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Physics Concepts
C lick on the link below to learn more.
Elastic and Inelastic Collisions -
[Link]
Energy and Momentum Problems -
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Momentum -
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ttp://[Link]/physics/Impulse/
Impulse - h
ttp://[Link]/physics/Momentum-and-Impulse/
Momentum and Impulse - h
Conservation of Momentum in One Dimension -
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Elastic Collisions -
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Inelastic Collisions -
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