Exploring Collisions (1)
- Author:
- Jon Ingram
This shows what happens to three colinear particles when the one on the left is projected toward the other two. The results of the first two collisions are shown. You can change the coefficient of elasticity, the initial velocity of the leftmost particle, and the masses of the three particles.
Alter each of the parameters. Before you do so, ask yourself what will happen, and then see if you were correct. In particular, what would you expect to happen when the coefficient of elasticity is increased (or reduced)?
Can you find a way to tell from the parameters, without having to calculate the results of the two separate collisions, whether or not there will be a third collision?