Question

Bouncing (Elastic) Collisions;

Enter the data into the spreadsheet and plot the initial energy versus the final energy. Do a straight line fit to find the slope and intercept of this graph. Put the best-fit straight line on your graph. Does the slope and y-intercept agree, to within 90% confidence, with the value you expect?

Results:

Elastic: Mass of left car = 200kg, Mass of right car = 400kg

initial velocity of left car initial velocity of right car         final velocity of left car     Final velocity of right car

1m/s,     0 m/s.                                       about -0.25 m/s.              about 0.5 m/s.

2m/s,     0 m/s.                                       about -0.5 m/s.               about 1.75 m/s.

3m/s,     0 m/s.                                       about -1 m/s.                  about 2 m/s.

3m/s,    -1m/s.                                        about -2.25 m/s.             about 1.8 m/s.

3m/s,    -2m/s.                                        about -3.9 m/s.              

about 1.5 m/s.

Answer 1

Given that, the mass of the left car = 100 kg

mass of the right car = 200 kg

Initial energy Vs final energy (left car)

intercept = -12.5

slope = 0.1205

Initial energy Vs final energy (Right car)

intercept = 770.2

slope = -0.422

The slopes for both the cases are not matching.

The initial velocity of the left car (in m/sec)	The initial velocity of the right car (in m/sec)	The final velocity of the left car (in m/sec)	The final velocity of the right car (in m/sec)	The initial energy of the left car	Final energy of the left car	The initial energy of the right car	Final energy of the right car
1	0	-0.25	0.5	100	6.25	0	50
2	0	-0.5	1.75	400	25	0	612.5
3	0	-1	2	900	100	0	800
3	-1	-2.25	1.8	900	506.25	200	648
3	-2	-3.9	1.5	900	1521	800	450