Open and run the simulation, which shows the top view of a blue truck and a yellow car. Turn on the meters for Vx of Blue and Vx of Yellow by clicking in their respective boxes.
This activity includes three questions in which the blue truck and the yellow car collide. The vehicles initially move perpendicular to each other. The meter indicates the x-component of velocity of the blue truck and the y-component of velocity of the yellow car.
Question 1
The sliders are set so that the 2000kg blue truck initially travels in the positive
x-direction at 10m/s and the 1000kg yellow car initially travels in the positive
y-direction at 20m/s. The elasticity of the collision is 0.7. Run the simulation and use momentum conservation principles to determine all of the final velocity components for the two vehicles. How much internal energy is produced during the collision? If you have difficulties, consult the Advisor. Now click on the velocity components to check your answer. Then click off the components and go on to Question 2.
Question 2
The sliders are set so that the 2000kg blue truck initially travels in the positive
x-direction at 10m/s and the 1000kg yellow car initially travels in the positive
y-direction at 20m/s. Make the collision totally elastic. (An elasticity of 1.0 is not reasonable for a car collision. Why?). Turn on the
x-component velocity for the blue truck and the y-component velocity for the yellow car. Run the simulation and use momentum conservation principles to determine all of the final velocity components for the two vehicles. How much internal energy is produced during the collision? If you have difficulties, consult the Advisor. Now click on the velocity components to check your answer.
Question 3
Set the sliders so that the 2000kg blue truck initially travels in the positive
x-direction at 24m/s and the 1000kg yellow car initially travels in the positive
y-direction at 12m/s. Set the elasticity to 0.3. Turn off the blue x-velocity component and the yellow
y-velocity component buttons. Run the simulation and use momentum conservation principles to determine all the final velocity components for the two vehicles. How much internal energy is produced during the collision? If you have difficulties, consult the Advisor. Then click on the velocity components to check your answer.