The Egyptian American international school

Grade 12 physics
Week 10
Lab simulation sheet
Name:---------------------------------- class:----------------- date: --------------------

Collisions PHET Lab

Objective:
Our objective in this lab is to collect the data in a test and trial online simulation that helped
us test and experience collisions like we would in a real world situation, and to get the most
efficient performance in the simulation.

Equipment Needed:
computer
Phet Simulation

Procedure:
1. Login to your own personal computer.

2. Go online and go to the PHET simulation site.

3. Click on the search bar and search for collision lab 2.01

4. Make sure the screen has the right information filled in 

5. Make predictions about mass and velocity of objects 1 and 2 before and after collision.

Once the site takes you to the collision simulation, click play and start the simulation using

different masses.

6. Repeat to get 3 trials

7. Record and Analyze Data

 The Egyptian American international school
Grade 12 physics
Week 10
Lab simulation sheet
Name:---------------------------------- class:----------------- date: --------------------

Data:

Predictions

Mass (kg) Velocity initial (m/s) Momentum final Velocity final (m/s)
kg*m/s

Ball 0.5 1 -0.25 -0.50

1

Ball 1.5 0 0.75 0.50

2

Trial 1 - 100% Elasticity (conservation of energy)

Mass (kg) Velocity initial (m/s) Momentum final Velocity final (m/s)
kg*m/s

Ball 0.5 1 -0.25 -0.50

1

Ball 1.5 0 0.75 0.50

2
 The Egyptian American international school
Grade 12 physics
Week 10
Lab simulation sheet
Name:---------------------------------- class:----------------- date: --------------------

Trial 2
 The Egyptian American international school
Grade 12 physics
Week 10
Lab simulation sheet
Name:---------------------------------- class:----------------- date: --------------------

Mass (kg) Velocity initial (m/s) Momentum final Velocity final (m/s)
kg*m/s

Ball 1.0 1 0 0
1

Ball 1.0 0 1 1
2

Trial 3
 The Egyptian American international school
Grade 12 physics
Week 10
Lab simulation sheet
Name:---------------------------------- class:----------------- date: --------------------

Mass (kg) Velocity initial (m/s) Momentum final Velocity final (m/s)
kg*m/s

Ball 2.0 1 0.33 …0.33……….

1

Ball 1.0 0 0.67 ……1.33………..

2

Calculations:

Results:
 The Egyptian American international school
Grade 12 physics
Week 10
Lab simulation sheet
Name:---------------------------------- class:----------------- date: --------------------

Our predictions were spot on. Overall in the lab we were able to collect the information we
needed in a real life manner. There were not really any factors that could cause error in this
lab. The computer does everything in the PHET lab precisely, however the user of the
software may have entered an incorrect value causing incorrect results. 

Conclusion:
By successfully completing the simulation, the main goal was accomplished by using and
observing the collisions PHET simulation. Throughout this taught how mass, velocity, and
time affect the collisions of two objects. This lab was very beneficial and helped create a
better understanding of how mass and volume affect collisions in day to day situations.