XPost: alt.sci.physics, uk.politics.misc, sci.physics
On 23 45, Dave wrote:
Until 2023 there was a widespread belief, that kinetic energy and
momentum were fundamentally different, kinetic energy proportional to
v^2 and momentum to v.
Experiments can be done dropping putty onto an airtrack vehicle. There
will be some energy loss from the collision, but with good experiments
and comparative measurement of kinetic energy by lifting weights by the vehicles, it can be shown that E=0.5mv^2 is not correct.
This is an equivalent to the rocket sled experiment where velocity is increased in stages by firing rockets, but using the addition of mass to decrease velocity.
A multilayer track where the weight is transferred down from one vehicle
to another in several stages can be used for checking how much energy is
lost in one drop.
This post isn't the experiment, but in general terms how schools can
move away from the ticker tape trolley.
This is at a basic level.
Something else which may be used is weights added by catching them like
old fashioned mailbags by a mail train.
Not sure how well an oiled track would be compared to an airtrack,
certainly quieter. Anything which slides, and doesn't have wheels or
ball bearings to confuse the learning. Ball bearings might be OK, but
can't say for for sure without testing. Likely there is temptation to
corrupt the setup, so best not to use any.
Having comparison tables may be worthwhile for a couple of years, mostly
for the benefit of the adults. Then the bad stuff can be left on dusty
shelves in a museum.
Public domain information for the above in whole or part, with any
existing rights respected.
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)