Ramp collision — loading the source car

How to use this simulation

1. Tap a hooked mass in the Source car load tray to drop it in the source car. Use Remove top mass or Clear masses to change the load. The receiver car always stays at 260 g.
2. Press Release car. It always reaches the bottom of the ramp at 200 cm/s, no matter how much mass it carries — only the collision changes with the load.
3. Watch the two cars couple and slide together, leaving a chalk mark where they stop.
4. Read the distance off the meter sticks: the first stick reads 0 to 100 cm, and the second stick starts over at 0 where it butts up against the first, just like in a real lab. Add the reading on the second stick to the full 100 cm of the first to get the total distance.
5. Each run is saved as a row in the Trials table and a point on the Distance vs source car mass graph, so you can compare loads.
6. Turn on Show the predicted curve to compare your data with the model, or Add measurement error so repeated trials don't land on the exact same number. Use Half speed to slow the collision down and watch it closely.
7. Press Reset cars to send the source car back to the release point, Clear trials to wipe the table and graph, or Copy data to copy your results for a spreadsheet.