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Size: 148 KB

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Categories:

1. Visualization
2. Home Study

Subjects:

1. Linear Algebra
2. Vectors
3. Geometry
4. Physics

Title: Elastic Collisions

Book Description: In this WorkBook, you may set up and launch two hockey pucks on an ice skating rink. You determine their masses, their velocities and their positions. You may move the pucks to any desired position by dragging them. For example, to set the velocity of a puck, just press the button then click once on the puck to set the tail of the velocity vector at its center, and once again away from the puck to determine the head of the vector (where it will be after one unit of time). Once you have determined these things, you are ready to do the simulation.
First the system will draw the initial momenta of the pucks, and their sum (the momentum of the system) at the origin of coordinates. It is this sum that should remain constant. It will also print the energy of the system, measured in the center of mass coordinates. Next, it will move the pucks, and the center of mass until one puck reaches a boundary. Here, you will want to observe the trajectory of the center of mass. It should move uniformly in a straight line. At the end, the system draws three more vectors. The dark red one is the final momentum of the red puck. The dark blue one is the final momentum of the blue puck. If there is a collision, these will not coincide with the original vectors as you will see. The dark green vector is the final momentum of the system. If there is any justice, this will coincide with the original green vector.
Finally, the energy at the end will be printed and should be essentially the same as the original (it may differ slightly, since we are approximating things.)

Author: James White

Suggested Use: This book works best with 640x480 Screen resolution.If you prefer not to change your resolution, then open an empty Mathwright Library Player from its icon, and, before you open the book, select: Window, Default Screen resolution. Then open book236\collisio.imt from the Mathwright menu.

Topics: linear algebra, elastic collisions, vectors, conservation laws

Number of Pages: 2

Animation: No

Grade Level: