Collision Simulator
Explore elastic and inelastic collisions. Adjust masses and velocities to observe momentum conservation, energy transfer, and center-of-mass motion.
Collision Parameters
Properties
| Mode | Elastic 1D |
| m₁ | 5 kg |
| m₂ | 5 kg |
| v₁ before | 10.0 m/s |
| v₂ before | 0.0 m/s |
| v₁ after | -- |
| v₂ after | -- |
| p total (before) | -- |
| p total (after) | -- |
| KE (before) | -- |
| KE (after) | -- |
| KE lost | -- |
The Physics Behind It
Collision Formulas
- Momentum conservation: m₁v₁ + m₂v₂ = m₁v₁' + m₂v₂'
- Elastic: v₁' = ((m₁−m₂)v₁ + 2m₂v₂)/(m₁+m₂)
- Perfectly inelastic: v' = (m₁v₁ + m₂v₂)/(m₁+m₂)
- Kinetic energy: KE = ½mv²
Key Concepts
- Momentum is always conserved in all collisions (elastic and inelastic) when no external forces act
- Kinetic energy is conserved only in perfectly elastic collisions
- Perfectly inelastic collisions lose the maximum possible kinetic energy — the objects stick together
- Equal-mass elastic collision: the objects exchange velocities completely
You're crushing it!