Perfectly Inelastic Collision
Students use a TI-Nspire tool to view a simulation of a one-dimensional perfectly inelastic collision in which the initial conditions can be changed. They explore the relationship between mass and velocity for the bodies, and calculate the initial and final momenta of the system. Students then make conclusions regarding the Law of Conservation of Momentum related to perfectly inelastic collisions. Teacher notes and students questions are available as a pdf file.
This resource addresses the Physics and Physical World Concepts CLEs regarding Newton's Laws of Motion in the area of momentum conservation and inelastic collisions. Students will realize that varying the initial mass or velocity of a body in the system will affect the final momentum of the system, and will utilize math skills to calculate a missing variable.
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