Question

student exploration: air track
vocabulary: air track, approach velocity, conservation of energy, conservation of momentum, elasticity, kinetic energy, momentum, separation velocity, velocity
prior knowledge questions (do these before using the gizmo.)
imagine going to a bowling alley with a bowling ball and a ping pong ball.

1. why is a bowling ball better for knocking down pins than a ping pong ball?
2. which do you think would knock down more pins, a bowling ball moving 10 meters per second or a bowling ball moving 10 centimeters per second?
3. what two factors seem to most affect the amount of damage that occurs in a collision?

gizmo warm - up
an air track is a device that helps scientists study motion. air comes out of holes in the track, allowing the gliders to move with minimal friction.

1. on the air track gizmo, click play (▶) to view a collision between the two gliders.

what do you see?

1. click reset (). the velocity (v) of an object describes its speed and direction. the velocity of each glider is indicated next to the (v_1) and (v_2) sliders. click play, and then click pause () just before the collision.

a. what is the velocity of glider 1?
b. in which direction does glider 1 move?
c. what is the velocity of glider 2?
d. in which direction does glider 2 move?

Explanation:

The problem is about the Air Track Gizmo, which is related to the study of motion, momentum, and collisions. This falls under the subfield of Physics in Natural Science. The questions involve understanding the factors affecting collisions (mass, velocity), and analyzing the motion of gliders on an air track. The concepts of momentum (related to mass and velocity) and energy conservation are central here, which are key topics in Physics.

Answer:

The subfield is Physics (under Natural Science).