Collision Patterns
What is a collision?
When two objects come into contact with each other and exert forces on each other.
What is kinetic energy?
The energy an object has because it is moving.
What does a force do to an object?
It can change an object’s motion or shape.
In an investigation, what do we call the thing the scientist changes on purpose?
Independent variable.
Information or observations we use to support an explanation.
Evidence
After a collision, name one thing that can change about an object.
Its speed, direction, or shape can change.
Two carts have the same mass. Cart A is moving faster than Cart B. Which has more kinetic energy?
Cart A.
Name one way an object can deform during a collision.
Bend, dent, stretch, squish, crack, or break.
What do we call the result that scientists measure or observe?
Dependent variable.
A force that happens when two objects are physically touching.
Contact force
Two objects collide, but neither one breaks. Does that mean nothing changed? Explain.
No. Their motion, speed, direction, or shape may still have changed. There could also be deformation we could not witness.
If a cart speeds up before a collision, what happens to its kinetic energy?
It increases.
If an object does not break, then it did not deform.
False.
Why do scientists keep some things the same during an investigation?
So they can make a fair comparison and know what caused the change.
A relationship or trend that shows up repeatedly in our results.
Pattern
In many of the collisions we observed, what pattern did we notice about the objects during the collision?
Both objects exert forces on each other, and one or both objects may change motion or shape.
During a collision, what can happen to the kinetic energy of the moving object? (Think back to our colliding carts lesson)
It can be transferred to another object and cause changes in motion.
Why might two objects deform differently even if they experience a similar collision?
They may be made of different materials or have different structures.
If your group changes the number of sticks being tested, what kind of variable is the number of sticks?
Independent variable.
When energy moves from one object to another during a collision, scientists call this a ________.
Energy transfer
A moving cart hits another object and slows down. What evidence would show that the collision caused a change in motion?
The cart’s speed decreased, stopped, or changed direction after the collision.
What science word means a change in an object’s shape caused by a force?
Deformation
In an investigation, scientists keep some things the same so they can make a fair comparison. What are those called?
Control variables
You want to find out whether more sticks need more force to break. Which setup would give you the strongest evidence?
A. Test 1 stick once and 3 sticks once
B. Test 1, 2, and 3 sticks using the same setup each time
C. Change the number of sticks and also change how you push
B — because only the number of sticks changes, so you can compare the results fairly.
Explain the three types of collisions we studied and what happens in each one.