Collisions in Two Dimensions
Questions .
Under what conditions is momentum conserved? How do you quantitatively characterize elastic
and inelastic collisions? Are collisions between steel balls 100% elastic? How do you
graphically represent vectors that have errors? How do you propagate the errors in vectors?
Calculate a percent difference between your measured angle and this ideal value. What does this percent difference signify?
Additional Questions for Your Discussion
1) Suppose two steel balls are taken into Earth orbit and collide in the vacuum of space. One ball is initially stationary (relative to the spacecraft) and the other is given an initial velocity. Is momentum conserved in this collision?
2) To what degree was your glancing collision an elastic collision?
3) Can perfectly elastic collisions ever occur in nature? Explain your answer in your report