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Momentum and Collisions

Crash two toy carts together, measure speeds from video, and test whether total momentum is conserved.

Grade 12ExperimentScience OlympiadSciencePhysicsData AnalysisMeasurementAdvanced1.3 to 2 hr7 materials

What you'll learn

  • Define momentum and impulse
  • Extract velocities from video frames
  • Compare total momentum before and after, and explain differences

Objective

Measure velocities before and after collisions and test conservation of momentum in elastic-like and sticky collisions.

STEM concepts

MomentumConservation lawsElastic and inelastic collisionsKinetic energy
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Why does it work, challenge and project report

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