Conservatio

n
of
Momentum
Lab Report
By

Atitaya Jaroenpattanamongkol
Pattranith Pattanaanunsuk
Kaewkawee Pleumcharoen

Mahidol University International Demonstration School

 Conservation of Momentum

Objective: To demonstrate the Law of Conservation of Momentum

Material : 1 low friction Vernier track

: 2 vernier cart
: Mass scale
: stop watch

Background

Momentum is the quantity of motion that an object has, it can be defined as a

mass in motion. Momentum depends on Mass and velocity, it can be expressed in
the terms of equation which is : Momentum(kg x m/s) = mass x velocity or P =MV.
Momentum is directly proportional to the mass of an object and directly proportional
to the velocity of an object. There are 2 types of momentum : elastic collision and
inelastic collision. Elastic collision is defined as one in which there is no loss of
kinetic energy in the collision. Inelastic collision is one in which part of kinetic energy
is changed to some other form of energy in the collision. The law of conservation of
momentum stated that, the total momentum before the collision is equal to the total
momentum after the collision.

Procedure

1) Get the mass of the cart.

2) Place the first car on the vernier track at 60 cm and the second cart at 40 cm.
3) Set the time by using the stopwatch.
4) Push the first cart against the second cart.
5) Starting point at 40 cm, when the first cart arrive at 60 cm then press lab at the
watch. After the cart is at 80 cm then press stop button.
6) Record the time for each point.
7) Calculate the velocity for both inelastic and elastic collision by using the formular :
Distance =Velocity x Time.
8) Calculate the momentum before and after collision by using the formula that have
been given.
8) Find percent different by using the formular that have been given.

Set up
 Results

Inelastic Collision Elastic Collision

M1 = 510.17 g
M2 = 516.40 g
V1 = 0 cm/s
V2 = Velocity = Distance/Time
: 20/0.75 = 26.67 cm/s
Distance travelled by cart 2 before the
collision = 20 cm
Distance travelled by cart 1 and cart 2
after collision = 20 cm
Vf = d=vt : 20/1.44 = 13.89 cm/s
% difference = 2(Momentum before
collision - Momentum after collision) x
100 Momentum before collision +
momentum after collision
M1 = 510.17 g
M2 = 516.40 g
V1 = 0 cm/s
V2 = Velocity = Distance/Time
: 20/0.63 = 31.75 cm/s
Distance travelled by cart 2 before the
collision = 20 cm
Distance travelled by cart 1 and cart 2
after collision = 20 cm
Vf = d=vt : 20/0.7 = 28.57 cm/s
% difference = 2(momentum before
collision - momentum after collision)/
Momentum before collision +
Momentum after collision

= 2(13772.39 - 14259.06)/ 28031.45 x = 2(16395.7- 14575.56)/30971.26 x 100

100 = 3.47% = 11.75%

Analysis of Results and Conclusion

This experiment help to demonstrate the conservation of momentum.

For inelastic collision, the percent difference is 3.47%. It is cause by the
external force. External force causes the loss of friction. From the result, it shows
that momentum is conserved.
For elastic collision the percent difference is 11.75% and it is caused by the
same reason as in an inelastic collision. The result in elastic collision is higher than
an inelastic collision. From the result, it shows that momentum is conserved.