---
title: "Students investigate collisions using two gliders on a level, frictionless air track. Glider 1, of mass \\( m_1 \\), is equipped with a force sensor that has a soft spring bumper. Glider 2, of unknown mass \\( m_2 \\), is initially at rest. Glider 1 is launched toward Glider 2. The software connected to the force sensor records the force \\( F(t) \\) exerted on Glider 1 by Glider 2 during the collision."
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/117792/"
date_modified: "2026-08-04T07:57:02+00:00"
---

# Students investigate collisions using two gliders on a level, frictionless air track. Glider 1, of mass \( m_1 \), is equipped with a force sensor that has a soft spring bumper. Glider 2, of unknown mass \( m_2 \), is initially at rest. Glider 1 is launched toward Glider 2. The software connected to the force sensor records the force \( F(t) \) exerted on Glider 1 by Glider 2 during the collision.

Students investigate collisions using two gliders on a level, frictionless air track. Glider 1, of mass \( m_1 \), is equipped with a force sensor that has a soft spring bumper. Glider 2, of unknown mass \( m_2 \), is initially at rest. Glider 1 is launched toward Glider 2. The software connected to the force sensor records the force \( F(t) \) exerted on Glider 1 by Glider 2 during the collision.

![A horizontal line represents an air track. On the track are two rectangular gliders. The left glider is labeled \( m_1 \). A small rectangular box is attached to the right side of the left glider, labeled 'Force Sensor', with a small rounded bump on its right end labeled 'Bumper'. The right glider is labeled \( m_2 \). An arrow points to the right above the left glider, labeled \( v_1 \). The right glider has no velocity arrow. No other labels, lines, text, or axes appear.](https://nerd-notes.com/wp-content/uploads/ubq-frq-generated/stem-fig-1-1785830221-0OC8AW.jpg)

**Part a)** The recorded force pulse from the collision can be analyzed. *(5 points)*

**Part b)** In a series of trials, the students launch Glider 1 at different initial speeds. For each trial, the force sensor software computes the magnitude of the impulse \( J \) delivered to Glider 1. A motion detector records the final speed \( v_2 \) of Glider 2 immediately after the collision. The data are shown in the table below. | Trial | Final Speed of Glider 2 \( v_2 \) (m/s) | Measured Impulse \( J \) (\(\text{N}\cdot\text{s}\)) | |-------|-----------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------| | 1     | 0.45                                    | 0.24                                             | | 2     | 0.70                                    | 0.36                                             | | 3     | 1.05                                    | 0.54                                             | | 4     | 1.30                                    | 0.67                                             | | 5     | 1.55                                    | 0.79                                             | *(6 points)*

**Part c)** The students analyze a specific trial and observe that Glider 1 rebounds and moves in the opposite direction after the collision. Assuming the collision is elastic, **indicate** whether the mass \( m_1 \) of Glider 1 is greater than, less than, or equal to the mass \( m_2 \) of Glider 2. - [ ] Greater than - [ ] Less than - [ ] Equal to **Justify** your answer. *(2 points)*

**Part d)** The students discover that the force sensor was not zeroed before the experiment. As a result, the measured impulse \( J \) for each trial was consistently greater than the actual impulse by a constant amount \( J_0 \). **Indicate** whether this systematic error causes the experimental value of \( m_2 \) calculated from the slope of your best-fit line to be greater than, less than, or equal to the actual mass. - [ ] Greater than - [ ] Less than - [ ] Equal to **Justify** your answer. *(2 points)*


*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/117792/*