In this experiment, you graphically analyze the motion of two colliding air pucks. 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
The following experiments provide examples of colliding bodies consisting of equal and unequal masses on a level and inclined table. The air pucks are on a level table for the first two experiments. In these cases the Center of Mass (CM) should travel along a straight line. When the system is acted upon by a net external force the CM will not, in general, follow a straight line. The table is at a small angle in the last two experiments allowing gravity to act on theair pucks.