course phy202
Observe the first several seconds of the simulation at the 'slow' default speed. You will see how the particles initially are all moving in or very close to the x direction, with little or no y component. Note the x and y kinetic energies, displayed near the top of the screen. Observe what happens to the directions of motion of the particles as they start colliding.
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Observe what happens to the x and y kinetic energies.
Is the system more organized at the beginning of the simulation or after a couple of minutes?
After a few minutes, the graphs on the right organize into a predictable curve, demonstrating that the system is becoming more organized.
If the x and y kinetic energies were averaged for 100 years, starting a few minutes after the simulation began, which do you think would be greater?
After a few minutes, the x and y kinetic energies appear to average out and to remain that way. After 100 years, this balance would be unlikely to change.
Run the simulation in this manner several times, and each time determine how long it takes before the total y kinetic energy is first greater than the total x kinetic energy. Report your results.
20s
5s
38s
13s
6s
Now take some data:
Running at the fastest default speed, stop the simulation with the pause/break key every few seconds, keeping your eyes closed for at least 2 seconds before stopping the motion.
Write down the x and y kinetic energies each time.
Do this at least 30 times.
Find the average of all your x and all your y kinetic energies.
xAve=376.4. yAve=363.9
Do you believe the difference in the averages is significant, in that the direction that has the higher average will always tend to have the higher average every time the simulation is run?
I don't think the differences are significant. SD x=62.2. SD y=64.4. xAve and yAve only differ by 12.5."
Good work on this experiment.