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Conservation of Momentum Lab Report

This document summarizes a lab experiment on the conservation of momentum. Students used a low friction track and two Vernier carts to demonstrate elastic and inelastic collisions. For elastic collisions, the total momentum remained the same before and after collision as the kinetic energy was transferred between carts. For inelastic collisions, some kinetic energy was lost as the carts stuck together after impact and moved with less total velocity than before. The results supported the principle of conservation of momentum for both elastic and inelastic collisions.

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183 views7 pages

Conservation of Momentum Lab Report

This document summarizes a lab experiment on the conservation of momentum. Students used a low friction track and two Vernier carts to demonstrate elastic and inelastic collisions. For elastic collisions, the total momentum remained the same before and after collision as the kinetic energy was transferred between carts. For inelastic collisions, some kinetic energy was lost as the carts stuck together after impact and moved with less total velocity than before. The results supported the principle of conservation of momentum for both elastic and inelastic collisions.

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CONSERVATION

OF MOMENTUM
Lab 6 Report

Nunchima C.
Kayla B.
Kongkiat C.
Pongsakorn A.

1103 
INTRODUCTION

We see conservation of momentum in our


daily lives. From releasing air out of a
balloon, to cars colliding with each other.
Conservation of momentum follows Newton's
first law about inertia.If there were no
external force, the  net momentum  of the
system will remain constant.There are two
distinctive collisions that may happen.
First is called "Elastic collision", which
means when two objects collide together,
they will bounce off each other. And second
is "Inelastic  collision". The two objects
will stick together after colliding
with  each other.To have a better
understanding on the topic, we experimented
with two carts colliding with each other on
a frictionless track and recording the time
for both Elastic and Inelastic collisions.

02
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate the Law of Conservation
of Momentum

MATERIALS
1 Low friction Vernier Track
2 Vernier cart
Mass scale
Stopwatch

PROCEDURE
1. Prepare materials
2. Weigh the two cart
3. Label cart1 and cart2
4. Measure three marks, 20cm from
each other
5. Push the cart and record the time
until collision
6. Record on second timer from the
moment of collion until cart2
passes the thrird mark

03
RESULTS

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Total

Cart 1 0.53s 1s 0.68s 2.21s


Elastic
Cart 2 0.5s 1.08s 0.66s 2.24s

Cart 1 0.47s 0.44s 0.53s 1.44s


Inelastic
Cart 2 1.06s 0.73s 1.26s 3.05s

ANALYSIS OF RESULTS
From the Elastic experiment, the first
cart has almost the exact same velocity as the
second one. The first cart transfer the force
on to the second cart. One the other hand, the
Inelastic collision's effect on the two carts
is different from the previous experiment. The
first cart has much less velocity than the
04 second cart. After collision, the two carts
stick together and move in the same direction.
CALCULATIONS
Inelastic Collision

M1 = 513.62g
M2 = 510g
V10 = 0
V20 = 13.89cm/s
Distance travelled by cart2 before collision = 20cm
Distance travelled by cart1 and cart2 after  collision =
20cm
Vf = 6.56cm/s
% difference = 5.3%

Momentum Before = (513.62 x 0)+(510.0 x 13.89)


= 7083.9
Momentum After = (513.62+510)6.56
= 6714.9472

Elastic Collision

M1 = 513.62g
M2 = 510g
V10 = 0
V20 = 9.05cm/s
Distance travelled by cart2 before collision = 20cm
Distance travelled by cart1 and cart2 after  collision =
20cm
V1f = 8.96cm/s
V2f = 0
% difference = 0.29%

Momentum Before = (513.62 x 0)+(510.0 x 9.05)


= 4615.5
Momentum After = (513.62 x 8.96)
= 4602.03 05
CONCLUSION

In conclusion of the
conservation of momentum lab
experiment. For Elastic collision,
after the two objects collide the
kinetic energy seems to not be lost,
but it is transferred to the other
object. For Inelastic collision,
some of the kinetic energy is lost
in the collision. We used the cart
to demonstrate this lab. We joined
our experiment with another group,
so our datas may intercept. But for
the results, we were satisfied
because it performed well as we
expected.

06
RECOMMENDATION

In our opinion, this lab could be


improved by having more Vernier track
because our two groups had to do join
experiments with each other. In which
mistakes can  easily occur.

Second, the number after calculation


can slightly miss because of human
error.

REFERENCES
Conservation of momentum, retrieved from,
http://skipper.physics.sunysb.edu/~physlab/do
ku.php?id=phy133:lab6conservationmomentumlong

Elastic and Inelastic Collisions, Retrieved


from,http://hyperphysics.phyastr.gsu.edu/hbas
e/elacol.html

07

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