This Interactive 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. 


Exploding Carts
Begin
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