In this experiment, you graphically analyze the motion of two colliding curling stones. Your main objective will be to demonstrate that the system of particles can be represented by the motion of the center of mass. That is, the system behaves as if it was a particle whose mass is the total system mass and is located at the center of mass.
In the case of an isolated system the Center of Mass (CM) should travel along a straight line. When the system is acted upon by a net external force, however, the CM will not, in general, follow a straight line.
The following experiments provide examples of colliding bodies consisting of a head-on and a glancing collision. Run the movie to observe the motion. Click on the links below to go to the lab.