OBJECT: To study energy transformations in multiple collisions of objects on a linear air track and to relate the rate of energy change to a Die-away Curve.
METHOD: An object floating on a linear air track is made to collide with several different materials. Upon impact the object rebounds and recollides several times, reaching a particular height for each rebound. Heights of successive rebounds are measured, and the coefficients of restitution are computed. Next, Die-away Curves are drawn from these data to show the rate of energy transformation. The curves then are related to other decay processes.
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