Lab

Report
Experiment:
Conservation
of Linear Momentum
1. Purpose: The purpose of our experiment was proving the
conservation of linear momentum.
2. Apparatus: Spark generator, two pucks (puck 1=208g/puck
2=198g), recording paper, carbon paper, pad, vacuum pump,
air table.
3. Theory: The theory from the experiment is that during
collision, net forces are equal to zero. The system (Rod, Earth)
is mechanically isolated
conserved so

P (before)=

d
P system
dt

F (ext) = 0 P is
=

P (after) m1v1+m2v2 =

m1v1+m2v2
4. Procedure: a) Place the two pucks on the air table.
b) Give them an initial force, and record their
movement on the recording paper.
c) Measure the distance covered by the pucks
and the necessary angles.
5. Calculations: Given: f=20Hz / m1=208g / m2=198g / =0.05s
d1= 14.2cm x10-2 / d2= 14.7cm x10-2 / d3= 14.1cm x10-2 /
d4=14.55cm x10-2
d1

0.142 m

d2

v1= t 1 = 5 x 0.05 s =0.568m/s v2= t 2 =

0.147 m
=0.588m/s
5 x 0.05 s
d3

0.141 m

d4

v1= t 3 = 5 x 0.05 s =0.564m/s v2= t 4 =

0.1455m
5 x 0.05 s

=0.582m/s

|P1|=m1|v1|=0.208kg x 0.568m/s = 0.118 kg.m/s

|P2|=m2|v2|=0.198kg x0.588m/s=0.116 kg.m/s

|P3|=m3|v3|=0.208kg x 0.564m/s=0.117kg.m/s
|P4|=m4|v4|=0.198kg x 0.582m/s=0.115 kg.m/s
Using a scale: 0.02 kg.m/s 1cm
P1=5.9cm P2=5.8cm P3=5.85cm P4=5.75cm
Graphically: Psys(before)=9.7cm x 0.02kg.m/s = 0.194kg.m/s
Psys(after)=Psys(before) Theoretically

Mass 1 (kg) V1 (m/s)

0.198

0.568

P1(kg.m/s)

Angle

0.118

(Degrees)
31.5

Mass 2(kg) V2(m/s)

P2(kg.m/s)

Angle
1(Degrees )

0.208

0.588

0.116

34

Mass 1(kg)

V1(m/s)

P3(kg.m/s)

Angle

0.117

(Degrees)
33

0.198

0.564

Mass 2(kg)
0.208

V2(m/s)
0.582

P4(kg.m/s)

Angle

0.115

(Degrees)
35

6. Errors: None
7. Sources of errors: are usually from inaccurate measurements
8. Conclusion: Error in this case should be less than 10% for the
linear momentum to be conserved, in our experiment the
%error was 0& on both magnitude and on angle.

Experiment:
Conservation of Linear
Momentum
Done by: Wadih Khnaizer
Samer Farraj
Charles Abou
Moussa
GSB