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Questions for Discussion: Collisions on an Air Track
- Were you able to confirm conservation of momentum in this activity? What would you predict if both carts were in motion toward each other? Would momentum be conserved then?
- Given the nature of the collision and resulting movement of the carts, what can you deduce about the nature of the surface on which they're traveling?
- How would you relate the mass and speed of the carts in order to describe the collision in terms of the transfer of energy?
