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Suchanuch Putaprapasri
Prawfah Roruangkul
Varun Saketharam
AP Physics 1102
Ms.Susan Alulod
Mahidol University International Demonstration School
Semester 1 School year 2016-17
Objective
The purpose of this lab is to demonstrate the law of conservation of
momentum. This lab will show how momentum of objects are transfered to
another object, conserved within a system of two objects. If the momentum is
not entirely conserved, then to show and be able to identify the causes of the
loss of momentum from the system.
Background information
Before understanding the law of conservation of momentum, it is
important to know the definition of the word Momentum. Momentum is defined
as the quantity of a moving object, measured as a product of its mass and
velocity. Momentum can also be related to another quantity known as impulse
which is defined as the product of force acting times the time over which the
force is acting. However, it can also be defined as the change in momentum of
an object.
The Law of conservation of momentum states that for a collision
occuring between two objects in an isolated system, the total momentum before
the collision is equal to the momentum after their collision. In other words, the
momentum lost by the first object is gained by the other colliding object. There
are two types of collision namely, elastic and inelastic collision. Elastic collsion
is the type of collision in which the kinetic energy of both colliding objects are
conserved within the system, and both objects usually bounces from one another
after collision. However, inelastic collision is the type of collision in which the
kinetic energy of both moving objects are lost from the system of two objects.
However, conservation of momentum, in our daily life, can barely be seen
because there are constantly external forces acting on the system we are
observing, causing the object to lose momentum. Some examples of external
forces that are easily observable are friciton, air resistance, and even gravity if
the system of objects are in mid air.
Materials used:
1. Vernier carts
3. Weighing machine
4. stop watch
Lab Procedure:
Elastic collision
1. Prepare a long low friction Vernier track on a table.
2. Measure and take notes of the mass of the two Vernier carts that
will be placed on the track, using the weighing machine.
3. Place two Vernier carts on two almost the opposite ends of the
Vernier track, any distance but more than 20 cm apart from one another.
4. Check for the correct carts orientation, both cart shoud have the
magnet of like poles (identical poles) facing each other.
5. Allow one cart to stay at rest on the Verinier track. Give a push to
one of the cart. Record the time taken for the cart to cover 20 cm after
being given a push until it collides with another cart using a stopwatch
6. Use another stopwatch to record the time taken for the second cart
to travel 20cm after being collided with the first cart.
Inelastic collision
4. Check for the carts orientation, both cart should have sticky
material facing each other.
5. Allow one cart to stay at rest on the Vernier track. Give a push to
one of the cart. Record the time taken for the cart to cover 20 cm after
being given a push until it collides with another cart using a stopwatch.
6. Use another stopwatch to record the time taken for both cart
sticking togethert to travel 20cm after colliding with each other.
7. Calculate the velocity using the formula velocity = distance/time
for both cart
8. Plug in the data collected into a formula (select the formula that is
suitable for the case). In this case, the collision is inelastic, meaning the
cart does stick together after collision. Therefore, the formula
M1V1+M2V2 = V(M1+M2) is used to calculate the momentum before and
after the collision.
9. Use the formula 2(momentum before-momentum after)/
(momentum before+momentum after) *100 to find the % difference.
Picture
Inelastic collision
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Elastic collision
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Results
Elastic collision
Total number of attempts: 4
Attempts 1 2 3 4
Note: The red highlighted values in the table indicates the final data obtained
Equations used for calculating quantities:
1. Finding velocities
Formula:
velocity= displacement/time ( V =S /T )
2. Finding momentum
Formula:
momentum = mass x velocity ( p=mv
3. Finding the % difference
Formula:
Momentum before collision+ Momentum after collision
%difference= 2( Momentumbefore collisionMomentum after collision)
[ ]
*100
Inelastic collision
Attempts 1 2
Mass1 516g 516 g
Note: The red highlighted values in the table indicates the final data obtained
Calculations
Elastic collision:
To calculate the initial momentum:
Momentumbefore collision = Mass1 x Velocity1
= 510 (20 / 0.72)
= 510 (27.78)
= 14167.8 kg m/s
To calculate the final momentum:
14167.8+13230.24
= 2( 14167.813230.24) *100
[ ]