Computational Thinking in Science and Math
Momentum: Perfectly Inelastic Collisions
You will use a NetLogo model to analyze the 1-Dimensional collision of 2 cars that is completely inelastic, i.e., Kinetic Energy is not conserved.
You will determine the following:
1. How the impulse compares to the change in momentum for an individual car in a collision of 2 cars.
2. How the momentum of an individual car compares before and after the collision of 2 cars.
3. How the kinetic energy of an individual car compares before and after the collision of 2 cars.
4. How the analysis changes if both cars are combined into a 2-car system. Both cars will be used to produce a single result.
You will determine in which case(s) {1-car system, 2-car system, both, or none} the momentum and kinetic energy are considered to be conserved, i.e., the same before and after the collision.