Begin
Exploding Carts
This widget allows you to explore the law of momentum conservation
for explosion-like impulses. Two carts are positioned on a track and
equipped with spring-loaded plungers. The plungers push the carts away
from each other in opposite directions.
You can vary the mass of two carts and observe the effect upon the
post-explosion velocity. Look for patterns in the data and see if you
can use the data to show that total system momentum is conserved.
Blue Cart
--
Explode
Mass (kg):
2.00
Post-Explosion Speed (cm/s)
Red Cart
Mass (kg):
Vary the mass of the carts and observe the effect upon the
post-explosion velocity. Do you see a pattern? And can you use the data
to show that total system momentum is conserved?
Reset
15.0
1.50
20.0
1.00
30.0
0.50
60.0
1.5