Grp No.

___ Grp Name ____________________ Grp members______________________________________________

PS2 Section ___ Date performed: _______________________ Date Submitted: _______________________________

1-Dimensional Linear Momentum

I. Prelaboratory Activity

1. What is momentum and what factors affect the momentum of an object?

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2. For a linear momentum scenario, what are the equations needed to describe 2 bodies colliding with one another. Draw
the free body diagram (FBD).

3. What are the different kinds of collisions if momentum is assumed to be conserved? Define both.
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4. What are the possible causes for why momentum is not conserved in a collision?
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01 PS2 Introductory Physics 1 Laboratory Experiment

1-Dimensional Linear Momentum
Grp No. ___ Grp Name ____________________ Grp members______________________________________________
PS2 Section ___ Date performed: _______________________ Date Submitted: _______________________________

1-Dimensional Linear Momentum

II. Laboratory Activity

What you need:
(1) linear track (with stoppers at both ends)
(2) 2 collision carts (approximately of the same mass) with picket fence
(3) 2 photo gates
(4) 2 clamps (for photogates)
(5) 2 iron stands
(6) masking tape
(7) LabQuest device

What to do:
1. Connect the two photogates to DIG 1 and DIG 2 ports of the LabQuest device. Connect this device to a computer
and turn on the device.
2. Open Logger Pro 3.8.4 software. Click Folder icon/symbol. Open Probes & Sensors > Photogates > Two Gate
Timing.
3. Place the two collision carts (each with a picket fence resting on top) in the linear track, such that the sticky
portions or the attractive portions are at the end of the two carts are directly facing each other. Place one cart at
the end of the track and the other one somewhere in the middle of the linear track. See figure below.

Figure 1. 1D setup for linear momentum experiment.

4. Mount each photogate in an iron stand. Position them such that the one connected in DIG 1 is placed AFTER the
cart at the end of the track while the other photogate is at the rightmost end of the second cart. Be sure that each
chopper will pass through the photogate detectors once a collision is initiated. See Figure 1.
5. Set object lengths/distances 1 and 2, in the Photogate Distance dialog boxes, to be equal to 0.025 m. (The
default object length for velocity calculation is 0.050 m. To change this value, right click on the Photogate
Distance dialog box > open Parameter control options > change # of decimal places from 2 to 3 > set value to
0.025 m.)
6. Click Collect button in your screen to prepare the photogate. Give the cart placed at the end of the track a
uniform velocity toward the (stationary) second cart. The two carts should collide and stick together, proceeding
at a different uniform velocity. Record these velocities displayed in the dialog boxes as Velocity 1 and Velocity 2.
Repeat this process 5 times and try to make the velocity of the cart you push as similar as possible with one
another.
7. Cover the sticky portion at the end of one of the two carts using masking tape or if using magnets, make sure
that the repelling sides are facing each other. Place one cart at the end of the track and the other one
somewhere in the middle of the linear track.

01 PS2 Introductory Physics 1 Laboratory Experiment

1-Dimensional Linear Momentum
Grp No. ___ Grp Name ____________________ Grp members______________________________________________
PS2 Section ___ Date performed: _______________________ Date Submitted: _______________________________

1-Dimensional Linear Momentum

8. Click Collect button in your screen to prepare the photogate. Give the cart placed at the end of the track a
uniform velocity toward the (stationary) second cart. The two carts should collide and should not stick together,
proceeding at different velocities. Record the initial velocity of the incident cart and the final velocity of the second
cart. Repeat this process 5 times and try to make the velocity of the cart you push as similar as possible with one
another.

DATA SHEET

Table 1. Weight of the carts with picket fence (and magnets if applicable).
Material Weight (kg)
Cart1
Cart2
Total Mass

Activity A. Linear momentum for an elastic collision.

Table 2. Data for determining the velocity of the two carts after collision.
Trial Number Velocity of cart1 Velocity of the Theoretical %Error
(m/s) two carts (m/s) velocity

Calculations:

01 PS2 Introductory Physics 1 Laboratory Experiment

1-Dimensional Linear Momentum
Grp No. ___ Grp Name ____________________ Grp members______________________________________________
PS2 Section ___ Date performed: _______________________ Date Submitted: _______________________________

1-Dimensional Linear Momentum

Table 3. Data for determining the velocity of the 2nd cart after collision.
Trial Number Velocity of cart1 Velocity of cart2 Theoretical %Error
(m/s) (m/s) velocity

Calculations:

Questions:
1. Calculate the theoretical value of the final velocity of the system in step 6 using the conservation of linear
momentum. Compute for the % error.
2. Prove that the kinetic energy of the system is not conserved in step 6. Where did the energy lost go?
3. Is this collision in step 6 elastic or inelastic? Why?
4. Compute the final velocity of the incident cart in step 8 using the conservation of linear momentum.
5. Is kinetic energy conserved in step 8? Show your complete solution.
6. Is the collision in step 8 elastic or inelastic? Why?

01 PS2 Introductory Physics 1 Laboratory Experiment

1-Dimensional Linear Momentum