A
for Teaching Physics
pparatus
Law of Conservation of Momentum Apparatus
Akio Saitoh, 8-7-11 Shirakashi-cho, Kashihara-shi Nara-ken, 634-0051, Japan; phsaitoh@m5.kcn.ne.jp
T wo plates are set up horizon-
tally, 4.1 cm apart, one above
the other as shown in Fig. 1. The
upper acrylic plate has a total of 405
small drilled holes. A fine stainless
steel wire is inserted through each
hole and adjusted so that one end of
the wire is 1.8 cm above the lower
wooden plate. The other end of the
wire is taped to the upper plate and
connected to the positive terminal
of the power supply.
Recording paper (25.5 cm
36.5 cm) is placed on the lower
wooden plate and fastened to the
plate with a steel clip. The clip is con-
nected to the negative terminal of the
power supply. Recording paper and
the power supply are obtainable from
YAGAMI1 for about $30. A train
of electric pulses is applied between
546
Erlend H. Graf, Column Editor
Department of Physics & Astronomy, SUNYStony Brook,
Stony Brook, NY 11794; egraf@notes.cc.sunysb.edu
the wires and clip. The maximum
voltage between electrodes is 110 V,
and it reaches this value in 1/1000 s
or less. The current is 0.1 A. There is
no danger even if someone touches
the surface of the recording paper
thats in contact with an electrode.
The wooden plate must be carefully
leveled. Two ramps are set up at the
end of the plate. Two identical steel
balls (3 cm in diameter) are launched
down the ramps simultaneously so
that they collide with each other.
When a ball moves on the paper,
it always touches at least one wire (as
shown in Fig. 2). The top layer of the
recording paper is an insulator. By
increasing the dc voltage, this layer is
destroyed and the lower carbon layer
is exposed. As the carbon layer is a
conductor, current flows through the
Fig. 1. Photo-
graph of the
apparatus for
checking the
law of con-
servation of
momentum.
DOI: 10.1119/1.2362952
paper from the bottom of the ball to
the clip. Then we can get easily seen
black marks. The very small force
that the wire exerts on the ball must
be negligible.
Theory
The black marks show that each
ball follows a slightly curved path for
a very short time after the collision
and then moves in a straight line, as
shown in Fig. 3. This phenomenon is
caused by the rotation of the ball.
Let us consider what happens
when a ball of mass m moving with
velocity V collides with another ball.
Before the collision, the ball moves
without slipping along the y-axis
[Fig. 4(a)]. The angular velocity 0 is
perpendicular to V, and
V = r x 0 , (1)
where r is a vector that points verti-
cally downward and whose magni-
tude equals the radius of the ball.
There is no rotation of the balls
about an axis perpendicular to the
recording paper.
When the balls collide (t = 0), the
velocity changes into V at an angle
of 0 to the x-axis, but there is no
change in the angular velocity [Fig.
4(b)].
At an arbitrary time t after colli-
THE PHYSICS TEACHER Vol. 44, November 2006
 Apparatus
Fig. 2. The side view of the apparatus. The arrow shows the direction of current. Fig. 3. Photograph of a marked paper.
Current flows along the wire, ball, recording paper, and clip. The path of each ball isnt straight
in the region enclosed with a broken
line. Each arrow shows the direction
sion, the velocity is v and the angular where I is the moment of inertia.
of motion.
velocity is as shown in Fig. 4(c). For a solid sphere,
The sum of the vectors v and x r vx = ry
2
is the relative velocity of the bottom I = mr 2 . (4) and vy = -r x . (7)
of the ball with respect to the paper. 5
The bottom of the ball rubs against Combining Eqs. (2), (3), and (4), we Using Eqs. (6) and (7), we get the
the paper and so a force of kinetic find that x- and y-components of the final
friction F acts on the ball in the di- velocity:
2
rection opposite to the relative veloc- rd x = dv y
5 5
ity, and its direction makes an angle U = V cos
x 0
with the y-axis. The force F, which and 7
has a moment about the center of the (5) and
2
ball, also changes the velocity. The rd y = dv x .
5 2 5
motion of the center of the ball is de- Uy = V + V sin 0 . (8)
scribed by Newtons second law: Integrating from the instant of col- 7 7
lision (t = 0) when the velocity is V These two equations are equivalent
dv x
xdirection m = F sin and the angular velocity is 0 up to to the vector equation
dt an arbitrary time t, we get
dv y (2) 2 5
ydirection m = F cos . 2 U= V + V . (9)
dt r (x + 0 ) = v y V sin 0 7 7
5
(6) This shows that the final velocity U
The torque about the center deter- 2 is the sum of the velocities
and r y = V cos 0 v x .
mines the angular acceleration. 5
2 5
V and V .
d x The direction of travel changes con- 7 7
xdirection I = rF cos
dt tinuously until the ball moves straight Now lets consider both balls (see
d y (3) without slipping again. Therefore, the Fig. 5). Two balls A and B, each
ydirection I = rF sin , final conditions are given by of mass m, have velocities VA and
dt

THE PHYSICS TEACHER Vol. 44, November 2006 547

 Apparatus

Fig. 4. (a) Before collision the ball moves with veloc- Fig. 5. Two balls collide at point P. Since they
ity V (V = r x 0). (b) When the ball collides, the have equal masses, we have the relation VA + VB
velocity changes into V', but there is no change in = V'A + V'B = UA + UB.
the angular velocity. (c) At an arbitrary time t after
collision, the velocity is v and the angular velocity is
. F is the force of kinetic friction.

VB respectively before they collide. where UA and UB are the final Using the method described
During the collision, the velocities velocities of A and B. Using Eqs. above, our experimental results were
change into VA and VB. From the (10) and (11), we can get in good agreement with the law of
law of conservation of momentum, conservation of momentum.
we have VA + VB = VA + VB = UA + UB. (12)
Reference
VA + VB = VA + VB . (10) Conclusion 1. YAGAMI Corp., 3-2-29, Marunou-
After the collision the ball follows chi, Naka-ku, Nagoya-shi, 460-0002
While from Eq. (9) we have a slightly curved path for a very short Japan.
time. Hence, we cant determine the PACS codes: 45.20.dc, 45.20.df,
2 5
UA = VA + VA velocities VA and VB correctly from 45.50.Tn
7 7
(11) the black marks. But according to
and Eq. (12), we are allowed to use the
2 5 velocities UA and UB on a straight
U B = VB + VB , path instead of VA and VB.
7 7

548 THE PHYSICS TEACHER Vol. 44, November 2006