STUDY ON ELASTIC AND INELASTIC

COLLISION USING PHET SIMULATION

A Project Report

Submitted to the Department of Physics, St. Xavier’s College,

Maitighar, in the partial fulfillment for the requirement of NEB +2

Science in physics

By

Genius Panday

Class: 11

Section: C

Roll No: 331

Date:
 RECOMMENDATION
It is to certify that Mr Genius Panday has successfully carried out the project title entitled
“STUDY ON ELASTIC AND INELASTIC COLLISION USING PHET SIMULATION”
under my guidance and supervision.

I recommend this project for the +2 degree of NEB

………………………………………….

Advisor

Mr Ram Sundar Matang

Department of Physics

St. Xavier’s College

Maitighar, Kathmandu, Nepal

i.
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The successful completion of this project was made possible through the invaluable guidance,
support, and encouragement of several individuals and institutions, to whom I am deeply
indebted. I consider myself fortunate to have received such excellent supervision and assistance
throughout this process, and this project is a reflection of their contributions.

I extend my sincere gratitude to the Department of Physics for providing me with a remarkable
platform and the resources necessary to undertake this project. I am particularly thankful to my
project supervisor, and our esteemed lecturer of Physics, Ram Sundar Matang Sir, for his
constant encouragement, insightful guidance, and unwavering support, which were instrumental
in the successful completion of my work.

I also acknowledge with gratitude the contributions of various organizations that provided the
essential information and resources needed for this report especially Colorado University.

I am especially grateful to my parents for their tremendous support throughout the course of this
project. Their unwavering encouragement was a source of constant motivation for me. I also
wish to thank my friends, particularly Boite and Harihar, for their camaraderie and support
during this journey.

Finally, I extend my heartfelt thanks to my college for fostering an environment of academic

excellence and providing the foundation that made this project possible.

ii.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
RECOMMENDATION i.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ii.

INTRODUCTION 1

OBJECTIVES 3

METHODOLOGY 4

RESULT AND DISCUSSION 5

CONCLUSION 7

FUTURE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT 8

REFERENCES 9

iii.
 INTRODUCTION
Introduction to PhET Simulation

The PhET Interactive Simulations project, developed by the University of Colorado Boulder, is a
pioneering educational initiative that offers free, interactive, and research-based science and
mathematics simulations. Designed to engage learners of all levels, these simulations allow users
to explore concepts in physics, chemistry, biology, earth science, and math through intuitive,
game-like environments. Founded in 2002 by Nobel Laureate Carl Wieman, PhET combines
cutting-edge pedagogy with dynamic visualizations to make abstract ideas tangible, fostering
deep conceptual understanding and critical thinking. Widely used in classrooms and self-directed
learning worldwide, PhET empowers educators and students to experiment, hypothesize, and
discover STEM principles in an accessible and engaging way.

Introduction to Collision in Physics

In physics, a collision refers to an event where two or more bodies come into contact with each
other for a short period, resulting in an exchange of forces and a change in their motion. During a
collision, the interacting objects exert equal and opposite forces on each other, often leading to
changes in their velocities, momentum, and energy distribution. Collisions can occur in various
forms, from everyday occurrences like car crashes and billiard ball interactions to microscopic
particle collisions in physics experiments. Understanding collisions is essential for analyzing
motion, force interactions, and the conservation laws of momentum and energy.

Types Of Collision

Elastic Collision

An elastic collision is a type of collision where the total kinetic energy of the system is
conserved before and after the impact. In such collisions, there is no loss of energy to sound,
heat, or deformation, and the colliding objects rebound off each other without any lasting change
in their shape. Elastic collisions are common in idealized scenarios, such as collisions between
atoms in a gas or perfectly hard spheres, where only momentum and kinetic energy are
exchanged.
Inelastic Collision

An inelastic collision, on the other hand, involves a loss of kinetic energy during the collision.
This lost energy is often converted into other forms, such as heat, sound, or deformation of the
objects involved. While the total momentum of the system is still conserved, the kinetic energy is
not. Inelastic collisions occur frequently in real-world scenarios, such as car crashes, where
objects may stick together or become damaged, resulting in a permanent change in their
structure.

Integration of Study of Collision with Phet Simulation

The Phet Simulation contains a web for studying Collision in Physics called the ‘Collision Lab’.
The Collision Lab offers an environment for simulating collision in 1-Dimension or 2-Dimension
in elastic or inelastic conditions. The simulation helps us understand about the different
conclusion that is observed when conditions regarding the collision is altered. Conditions such as
mass, velocity of objects colliding, no of objects colliding, elasticity of the objects, the distance
they travel etc. can be changed. This provides a wide range of possibilities that may occur in a
collision environment. Among these various conditions, different variety of data can be collected
based on different factors, ultimately helping us visualize and understand collision in Physics.
The project has integrated this concept into the Phet simulation to understand elastic and non-
elastic collision.
 2

OBJECTIVES

 To examine elastic and inelastic collisions through computer simulations and confirm the
conservation principles of momentum and kinetic energy.

 To investigate how changes in mass and velocity influence collision results in both one-
dimensional and two-dimensional scenarios using real-time simulation data.

 To analyze graphical outputs from simulations and explore their practical applications in
fields such as engineering, astrophysics, and safety mechanics.
 3

METHODOLOGY
A Computer-Based Simulation Approach

This study uses the PhET "Collision Lab" simulation to conduct virtual tests on elastic and
inelastic

collisions. The process includes the following steps:

1. Collision Type Selection: Various collision scenarios were examined, including both
one-dimensional and two-dimensional elastic and inelastic collisions.
2. Adjustment of Input Parameters: The mass, velocity, and initial conditions of the
colliding objects were modified to observe their impact on collision outcomes.
3. Data Acquisition: Real-time velocity and momentum values before and after the
collision were recorded from the PhET simulation for further analysis.
4. Graphical Evaluation: Graphs depicting momentum and kinetic energy before and after
the collision were analyzed to validate the conservation principles.
5. Result Analysis: The recorded data were compared with theoretical predictions to assess
the accuracy and reliability of the simulation.

By following this methodology, the study ensures an accurate representation of fundamental

physics principles while making use of computational tools to simulate real-world scenarios.
 4

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

One-Dimensional Elastic Collision Analysis:

A one-dimensional elastic collision occurs when two objects move along a straight line before
and after impact. The final velocities of the objects can be determined using the conservation
laws of momentum and kinetic energy.

In the PhET "Collision Lab" simulation, a scenario was modeled where Object A, weighing 3 kg,
traveled at 2.5 m/s toward Object B, which had a mass of 1.5 kg and was initially at rest. After
the collision, Object A moved at 1 m/s, while Object B gained a velocity of 4 m/s. The total
momentum before impact was calculated as (3 kg × 2.5 m/s) + (1.5 kg × 0 m/s) = 7.5 kg·m/s.
After the collision, the total momentum was (3 kg × 1 m/s) + (1.5 kg × 4 m/s) = 7.5 kg·m/s,
demonstrating the conservation of momentum. This experiment also confirmed that kinetic
energy remained conserved, reinforcing the fundamental concept of elastic collisions, which has
significant applications in fields such as astrophysics and atomic physics.

Two-Dimensional Elastic Collision Analysis:

A two-dimensional elastic collision occurs when two objects interact within a plane, requiring
velocity components to be analyzed along both the x and y axes. Determining their velocities
after the collision involves using vector decomposition and trigonometric relationships.

In a different PhET simulation scenario, Object A, with a mass of 2 kg, traveled at 4 m/s at an
angle of 45° before colliding with Object B, which had an identical mass and was initially at rest.
After the collision, PhET data showed that Object A moved at 2.83 m/s at an angle of 30°, while
Object B moved at 2.83 m/s at -30°. This confirmed the conservation of both kinetic energy and
momentum in two dimensions. The post-collision motion depends on factors such as mass and
impact angle, making this concept essential in areas like sports physics, projectile dynamics, and
space exploration.

Inelastic Collision in One or Two-Dimensions Analysis:

Inelastic collisions do not preserve kinetic energy. A perfectly inelastic collision occurs when
two objects stick together after impact, and their final velocity is determined using the principle
of linear momentum conservation. Understanding inelastic collisions is crucial in engineering, as
it aids in designing materials and safety systems that efficiently absorb impact energy.

In a simulated inelastic collision, Object A, with a mass of 4 kg, moved at 6 m/s toward Object
B, which had a mass of 3 kg and was traveling at 3 m/s in the opposite direction. After the
collision, both objects merged and moved as a single unit. The total momentum before impact
was calculated as (4 kg × 6 m/s) + (3 kg × (-3 m/s)) = 24 - 9 = 15 kg·m/s. The final velocity of
the combined mass was found using the equation (Total momentum) / (Total mass), yielding 15
kg·m/s ÷ (4 kg + 3 kg) = 2.14 m/s. This experiment confirmed that momentum remained
conserved, while kinetic energy decreased due to its transformation into heat, sound, and
deformation, reflecting real-world phenomena observed in car crashes and industrial material
testing.

Discussion:

The findings from the PhET simulations effectively illustrate the principle of momentum
conservation in both elastic and inelastic collisions. In elastic collisions, the total momentum
remained unchanged before and after impact, with kinetic energy also staying constant. The real-
time data demonstrated that in one-dimensional elastic collisions, objects exchanged velocities in
proportion to their masses, similar to real-world scenarios like Newton’s cradle and billiard balls.
In two-dimensional elastic collisions, changes in velocity and direction followed vector
decomposition principles. The simulation confirmed that total kinetic energy remained
unchanged, reinforcing the theoretical framework of elastic collisions in two dimensions. This
has practical applications in areas such as ice hockey and engineering, where physics-based
solutions are essential. Conversely, inelastic collisions exhibited a noticeable loss of kinetic
energy, which was converted into heat, sound, and structural deformation. The simulation data
showed that when two objects merged after colliding, their final velocity was lower than their
individual initial velocities. This aligns with real-world cases such as automobile accidents and
sports collisions, where energy dissipation plays a critical role in safety engineering and material
design.

CONCLUSION

The exploration of elastic and inelastic collisions through PhET simulations has provided
valuable insights into the fundamental principles governing motion and impact. The real-time
data confirmed that momentum remains conserved in both elastic and inelastic collisions. Elastic
collisions retain kinetic energy, making them essential for understanding particle physics and
molecular interactions. In contrast, inelastic collisions demonstrated how kinetic energy
transforms into other forms, highlighting their significance in real-world scenarios such as crash
investigations, material durability testing, and sports science.

The simulations also revealed that one-dimensional collisions are simpler to evaluate, whereas
two-dimensional collisions require vector breakdown for precise calculations. The results
reinforced the core principles of classical mechanics and underscored the practical relevance of
conservation laws.

Ultimately, this study highlights the importance of computer-based simulations in physics

education. The PhET simulations offered a controlled setting where variables could be adjusted
to observe their effects, deepening our comprehension of collision mechanics.
 7

FUTURE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT

Collisions remain a dynamic field of research with significant implications across various
scientific and engineering disciplines. Future advancements in simulations incorporating
rotational motion, friction, and non-linear forces could offer even more precise insights into
collision dynamics.

Additionally, real-world experiments using motion sensors and high-speed cameras could
complement simulation data, bridging the gap between theoretical models and practical
observations. Researchers in fields such as astrophysics, automotive safety, and biomechanics
can leverage crash analysis data to enhance safety regulations, strengthen material resilience, and
refine structural designs.

Moreover, integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning into collision studies could
lead to predictive models that improve accident prevention strategies. Future investigations may
also explore the impact of relativistic effects in high-energy collisions, which is particularly
relevant in particle physics and space exploration.

Ongoing research in these areas will continue to drive technological advancements, expand
scientific knowledge, and contribute to safer everyday applications.
 8

REFERENCES

 PhET Interactive Simulations. (n.d.). Collision Lab. University of Colorado Boulder.

Retrieved from https://phet.colorado.edu/
 Halliday, D., Resnick, R., & Walker, J. (2020). Fundamentals of Physics. Wiley.
 Young, H. D., & Freedman, R. A. (2019). University Physics with Modern Physics.
Pearson.
 Serway, R. A., & Jewett, J. W. (2018). Physics for Scientists and Engineers. Cengage
Learning
 Thornton, S. T., & Marion, J. B. (2017). Classical Dynamics of Particles and Systems.
Cengage Learning.
 Knight, R. D. (2017). Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach. Pearson.
 Tipler, P. A., & Mosca, G. (2014). Physics for Scientists and Engineers. Macmillan.
9