Collision Simulator
Explore elastic and inelastic collisions. Adjust masses and velocities to observe momentum conservation, energy transfer, and center-of-mass motion.
Collision Parameters
Properties
| Mode | Elastic 1D |
| mโ | 5 kg |
| mโ | 5 kg |
| vโ before | 10.0 m/s |
| vโ before | 0.0 m/s |
| vโ after | -- |
| vโ after | -- |
| p total (before) | -- |
| p total (after) | -- |
| KE (before) | -- |
| KE (after) | -- |
| KE lost | -- |
The Physics Behind It
Collision Formulas
- Momentum conservation: mโvโ + mโvโ = mโvโ' + mโvโ'
- Elastic: vโ' = ((mโโmโ)vโ + 2mโvโ)/(mโ+mโ)
- Perfectly inelastic: v' = (mโvโ + mโvโ)/(mโ+mโ)
- Kinetic energy: KE = ยฝmvยฒ
Key Concepts
- Momentum is always conserved in all collisions (elastic and inelastic) when no external forces act
- Kinetic energy is conserved only in perfectly elastic collisions
- Perfectly inelastic collisions lose the maximum possible kinetic energy โ the objects stick together
- Equal-mass elastic collision: the objects exchange velocities completely
You're crushing it!