Gene Chen

Mr Bartolotta
AP Physics C
11/25/14

Momemtum, Energy and Collisions Lab

Data Table
Ball Type
Golf
Ping Pong
Super
Bouncy
Tennis

Mass(kg)
.0455
.0027
.018

Height(m)
.84
.72
.87

Elasticity
.92
.85
.94

%K lost(j)
14.7
27
12

.056

.345

.59

65.1

Questions
1) The ball that lost the most KE was the tennis ball. The collision
between the tennis ball and the ground was the least elastic and
therefore had the lowest coefficient of restitution.
2) The ball that lost the least KE was the super bouncy ball. The
collision between the super bouncy ball and the ground was most
elastic and therefore had the highest coefficient of restitution.
3) The energy lost in the collision was converted to sound, heat as
well as the slight compression of the ball during the actual
collision.
4) An optimal automobile would have an inelastic body since in
inelastic collisions KE is not conserved. Since KE is not conserved
the impulse felt by the passengers would be less than if KE was
conserved.
5) One example of an elastic collision would be a pool ball. In pool
when one ball hits another the velocity of one is almost
completely transferred to that of the other ball.

Conclusion
The purpose of this lab was to calculate and understand the elastic and
inelastic collisions. Coefficients of restitution were also calculated using the Law of
Conservation of Energy. By measuring the height before and after the drop students
were able to measure the velocities before and after the collision. The coefficient of
restitution was found by dividing the velocity after the collision with the velocity
before the collision. Balls that had a higher bounce had a higher velocity and

therefore retained most of its KE. This means that the coefficient of resititution has a
direct relationship with the amount of KE conserved. One possible source of error
was the bounce of the balls. If the ball did not bounce exactly straight up then some
of the vertical KE would be lost to a horizontal KE and skewing the validity of the
calculations.