Objective: Investigate uni-dimensional collisions on an air track
One important consequence of Newton’s third law is the conservation of momentum in collisions between two bodies. One way of verifying this is to investigate collisions between two sliders on an air track. When all of the kinetic energy is conserved, we speak of elastic collisions. In cases where kinetic energy is only conserved for the common centre of gravity of the two bodies, we use the term inelastic collisions. In this experiment, the individual velocities of the sliders are determined from the times that photoelectric light barriers are interrupted and the momentum values are calculated from these speeds.
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![Pulse Generator Launcher -
recommended accessory air track, 1019301 [U20612], Linear Motion - Accessory](/_images/ProductImageComingSoon/140en.gif)
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![Electromagnetic Launch Apparatus -
recommended accessory air track, 1019300 [U20611], Linear Motion - Accessory](/thumblibrary/U20611/U20611_01_140_140_Electromagnetic-Launch-Apparatus-recommended-accessory-air-track.jpg)
![Glider 150 g (gold), 1003344 [U40420], Linear Motion - Accessory](/thumblibrary/U40420/U40420_01_140_140_Glider-150-g-gold.jpg)
![Photo Gate, 1000563 [U11365], Sensors for Physics](/thumblibrary/U11365/U11365_01_140_140_Photo-Gate.jpg)
![Barrel Foot, 1 kg, 1002834 [U13265], Bases](/thumblibrary/U13265/U13265_01_140_140_Barrel-Foot-1-kg.jpg)
![Universal Clamp, 1002830 [U13255], Clamps](/thumblibrary/U13255/U13255_01_140_140_Universal-Clamp.jpg)
![Stainless Steel Rod 470 mm, 1002934 [U15002], Rods](/thumblibrary/U15002/U15002_01_140_140_Stainless-Steel-Rod-470-mm.jpg)
![Air Track, 1021090 [U206101], Linear Motion](/thumblibrary/U206101/U206101_01_140_140_Air-Track.jpg)
![Connection Cable MiniDIN8 – BT, 1021688 [U8557950], Additional Accessories for Computer-aided Experimentation](/thumblibrary/U8557950/U8557950_01_140_140_Connection-Cable-MiniDIN8-BT.jpg)
![Clamp with Hook, 1002828 [U13252], Clamps](/thumblibrary/U13252/U13252_01_140_140_Clamp-with-Hook.jpg)
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(230 V, 50/60 Hz), 1003312 [U33020-230], Power Supplies](/thumblibrary/U33020-230/U33020-230_01_140_140_DC-Power-Supply-20-V-5-A-230-V-5060-Hz.jpg)
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![Calipers, 150 mm, 1002601 [U10071], Measurement of Length](/thumblibrary/U10071/U10071_01_140_140_Calipers-150-mm.jpg)
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![External Micrometer, 1002600 [U10070], Measurement of Length](/thumblibrary/U10070/U10070_01_140_140_External-Micrometer.jpg)
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