Term

Ri
Rf
Bi
Bf
Pri*
Prf*

Meaning
Initial velocity of red PAScar
Final velocity of red PAScar
Initial velocity of blue PAScar
Final velocity of blue PAScar
Initial momentum of red PAScar
Final momentum of red PAScar

Term
Pbi*
Pbf*
Ti
Tf
% D

Meaning
Initial momentum of blue PAScar
Final momentum of blue PAScar
Total initial momentum
Total final momentum
Relative difference between initial and final total momentum

* Momentum was determined by using the equation, P = m * a, or momentum = mass * acceleration

Total initial and final momentum were determined by summing the momentum of each car during the initial or final stage

Normal Collision
Red Weight
Blue Weight

257.5
254
Ri

Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Trial 4
Trial 5
Trial 6
Trial 7
Trial 8

Rf

Bi

38.00
74.60
71.40
66.60
58.80
80.60
69.90
84.70

-46.50
-20.50
-30.10
-36.20
-50.50
-58.80
-65.70
-50.50

Bf

Pri

-73.50
-53.70
-64.90
-66.60
-81.90
-101.00
-98.00
-92.50

12.30
46.90
40.30
37.00
27.70
39.60
33.50
44.60

9785.00
19209.50
18385.50
17149.50
15141.00
20754.50
17999.25
21810.25

Prf
Pbi
Pbf
Ti
-11973.75 -18669.00
3124.20
-5278.75 -13639.80
11912.60
-7750.75 -16484.60
10236.20
-9321.50 -16916.40
9398.00
-13003.75 -20802.60
7035.80
-15141.00 -25654.00
10058.40
-16917.75 -24892.00
8509.00
-13003.75 -23495.00
11328.40

Tf
-8884.00
5569.70
1900.90
233.10
-5661.60
-4899.50
-6892.75
-1684.75

% D
-8849.55
6633.85
2485.45
76.50
-5967.95
-5082.60
-8408.75
-1675.35

0%
19%
31%
-67%
-5%
-4%
-22%
1%

Relative Difference Between Initial and Final Momentum

100%
80%

Relative Difference (%)

60%
40%
20%
0%
1

-20%

-40%
-60%
-80%
-100%

507.5
254
Ri

Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Trial 4
Trial 5
Trial 6
Trial 7
Trial 8

Rf

Bi

83.30
68.90
84.70
93.40
75.70
99.00
65.70
78.10

43.60
35.30
43.60
46.70
36.70
46.90
28.00
41.30

Bf
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

Pri
75.10
61.70
76.30
90.00
73.50
96.10
69.90
66.20

Prf
42274.75
34966.75
42985.25
47400.50
38417.75
50242.50
33342.75
39635.75

Pbi
22127.00
17914.75
22127.00
23700.25
18625.25
23801.75
14210.00
20959.75

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

Pbf
Ti
19075.40
15671.80
19380.20
22860.00
18669.00
24409.40
17754.60
16814.80

Relative Difference Between Initial and Final Momentum

100%
80%
60%

Relative Difference (%)

Red Weight
Blue Weight

Trial

40%
20%

Tf
42274.75
34966.75
42985.25
47400.50
38417.75
50242.50
33342.75
39635.75

% D
41202.40
33586.55
41507.20
46560.25
37294.25
48211.15
31964.60
37774.55

-3%
-4%
-3%
-2%
-3%
-4%
-4%
-5%

Relative Difference (%)

20%
0%
1

-20%

-40%
-60%
-80%
-100%

Red Weight
Blue Weight

Trial

757.5
254
Ri

Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Trial 4
Trial 5
Trial 6
Trial 7
Trial 8

Rf

Bi

63.60
50.50
62.10
71.40
57.40
62.10
62.10
51.80

Bf

40.40
31.90
39.80
45.80
36.60
39.60
39.20
32.00

Pri

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

62.80
47.60
60.20
69.40
54.90
59.80
60.60
50.70

Prf
48177.00
38253.75
47040.75
54085.50
43480.50
47040.75
47040.75
39238.50

Pbi
30603.00
24164.25
30148.50
34693.50
27724.50
29997.00
29694.00
24240.00

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

Pbf
Ti
15951.20
12090.40
15290.80
17627.60
13944.60
15189.20
15392.40
12877.80

Tf

% D

48177.00
38253.75
47040.75
54085.50
43480.50
47040.75
47040.75
39238.50

46554.20
36254.65
45439.30
52321.10
41669.10
45186.20
45086.40
37117.80

-3%
-5%
-3%
-3%
-4%
-4%
-4%
-5%

Relative Difference Between Initial and Final Momentum

100%
80%

Relative Difference (%)

60%
40%
20%
0%
1

-20%

-40%
-60%
-80%
-100%

Trial

Velcro Collision
257.5
254
Ri
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Trial 4
Trial 5
Trial 6
Trial 7
Trial 8

Rf

Bi

43.60
63.20
53.10
59.50
59.10
72.90
78.70
72.90

Bf

17.80
29.80
24.30
27.80
27.40
31.70
37.70
34.90

Pri

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

20.80
30.80
25.70
29.10
28.90
34.40
38.90
35.90

Prf
11227.00
16274.00
13673.25
15321.25
15218.25
18771.75
20265.25
18771.75

Pbi

Pbf

4583.50
7673.50
6257.25
7158.50
7055.50
8162.75
9707.75
8986.75

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

Ti
5283.20
7823.20
6527.80
7391.40
7340.60
8737.60
9880.60
9118.60

Tf

% D

11227.00
16274.00
13673.25
15321.25
15218.25
18771.75
20265.25
18771.75

9866.70
15496.70
12785.05
14549.90
14396.10
16900.35
19588.35
18105.35

Relative Difference Between Initial and Final Momentum

100%
80%
60%

Relative Difference (%)

Red Weight
Blue Weight

40%
20%
0%
-20%

-12%
-5%
-6%
-5%
-5%
-10%
-3%
-4%

Relative Difference (%)

-20%
-40%
-60%
-80%
-100%

Red Weight
Blue Weight

Trial

507.5
254
Ri

Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Trial 4
Trial 5
Trial 6
Trial 7
Trial 8

Rf

Bi

78.70
70.40
75.10
65.30
70.40
75.70
66.60
35.40

Bf

51.50
45.00
49.00
41.80
45.40
49.00
42.90
21.00

Pri

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

52.00
45.80
50.00
42.70
46.00
49.70
43.80
22.90

39940.25
35728.00
38113.25
33139.75
35728.00
38417.75
33799.50
17965.50

Prf
Pbi
26136.25
22837.50
24867.50
21213.50
23040.50
24867.50
21771.75
10657.50

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

Pbf
Ti
13208.00
11633.20
12700.00
10845.80
11684.00
12623.80
11125.20
5816.60

Tf

% D

39940.25
35728.00
38113.25
33139.75
35728.00
38417.75
33799.50
17965.50

39344.25
34470.70
37567.50
32059.30
34724.50
37491.30
32896.95
16474.10

-1%
-4%
-1%
-3%
-3%
-2%
-3%
-8%

Relative Difference Between Initial and Final Momentum

100%
80%

Relative Difference (%)

60%
40%
20%
0%
1

-20%

-40%
-60%
-80%
-100%

757.5
254
Ri

Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Trial 4
Trial 5
Trial 6
Trial 7
Trial 8

Rf

Bi

53.40
71.40
54.00
65.30
59.80
52.90
52.00
68.90

Bf

38.40
52.00
38.70
47.10
43.20
37.50
36.90
50.70

Pri

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

39.50
52.90
39.60
48.30
44.00
38.70
38.10
51.80

Prf
40450.50
54085.50
40905.00
49464.75
45298.50
40071.75
39390.00
52191.75

Pbi
29088.00
39390.00
29315.25
35678.25
32724.00
28406.25
27951.75
38405.25

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

Pbf
Ti
10033.00
13436.60
10058.40
12268.20
11176.00
9829.80
9677.40
13157.20

Tf

% D

40450.50
54085.50
40905.00
49464.75
45298.50
40071.75
39390.00
52191.75

39121.00
52826.60
39373.65
47946.45
43900.00
38236.05
37629.15
51562.45

Relative Difference Between Initial and Final Momentum

100%
80%
60%

Relative Difference (%)

Red Weight
Blue Weight

Trial

40%
20%
0%
-20%
-40%
-60%
-80%
-100%

-3%
-2%
-4%
-3%
-3%
-5%
-4%
-1%

-100%

Trial

Magnets
Red Weight
Blue Weight

257.5
254
Ri

Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Trial 4
Trial 5
Trial 6
Trial 7
Trial 8

Rf

Bi

23.00
31.80
30.00
31.90
37.30
24.00
26.80
28.50

Bf

-17.90
-19.50
-25.20
-33.60
-25.70
-23.90
-32.20
-30.80

Pri

-37.50
-24.50
-29.20
-37.50
-29.70
-31.00
-35.30
-34.60

22.30
30.30
27.70
30.90
35.50
29.00
25.10
26.50

Prf
5922.50
8188.50
7725.00
8214.25
9604.75
6180.00
6901.00
7338.75

Pbi
-4609.25
-5021.25
-6489.00
-8652.00
-6617.75
-6154.25
-8291.50
-7931.00

Pbf
-9525.00
-6223.00
-7416.80
-9525.00
-7543.80
-7874.00
-8966.20
-8788.40

Ti
5664.20
7696.20
7035.80
7848.60
9017.00
7366.00
6375.40
6731.00

Tf
-3602.50
1965.50
308.20
-1310.75
2060.95
-1694.00
-2065.20
-1449.65

% D
1054.95
2674.95
546.80
-803.40
2399.25
1211.75
-1916.10
-1200.00

129%
36%
77%
39%
16%
172%
7%
17%

Relative Difference Between Initial and Final Momentum

100%
80%

Relative Difference (%)

60%
40%
20%
0%
1

-20%

-40%
-60%
-80%
-100%

507.5
254
Ri

Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Trial 4
Trial 5
Trial 6
Trial 7
Trial 8

Rf

Bi

39.20
38.60
36.60
43.80
56.10
45.80
57.10
58.80

Bf

5.70
5.20
4.10
8.90
14.10
9.40
14.80
15.50

Pri

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

49.50
48.50
46.00
55.20
71.90
58.40
72.40
74.60

Prf
19894.00
19589.50
18574.50
22228.50
28470.75
23243.50
28978.25
29841.00

Pbi
2892.75
2639.00
2080.75
4516.75
7155.75
4770.50
7511.00
7866.25

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

Pbf
Ti
12573.00
12319.00
11684.00
14020.80
18262.60
14833.60
18389.60
18948.40

Tf

% D

19894.00
19589.50
18574.50
22228.50
28470.75
23243.50
28978.25
29841.00

15465.75
14958.00
13764.75
18537.55
25418.35
19604.10
25900.60
26814.65

Relative Difference Between Initial and Final Momentum

100%
80%
60%

Relative Difference (%)

Red Weight
Blue Weight

Trial

40%
20%
0%
-20%

-40%
-60%
-80%
-100%

Trial

-22%
-24%
-26%
-17%
-11%
-16%
-11%
-10%

Red Weight
Blue Weight

757.5
254
Ri

Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Trial 4
Trial 5
Trial 6
Trial 7
Trial 8

Rf

Bi

54.30
44.80
49.50
46.20
57.10
44.00
48.70
55.80

Bf

23.20
17.80
20.30
18.30
25.00
17.40
20.20
24.30

Pri

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

76.90
64.10
70.40
66.20
80.60
62.80
68.90
79.30

Prf
41132.25
33936.00
37496.25
34996.50
43253.25
33330.00
36890.25
42268.50

Pbi
17574.00
13483.50
15377.25
13862.25
18937.50
13180.50
15301.50
18407.25

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

Pbf
Ti
19532.60
16281.40
17881.60
16814.80
20472.40
15951.20
17500.60
20142.20

Tf

% D

41132.25
33936.00
37496.25
34996.50
43253.25
33330.00
36890.25
42268.50

37106.60
29764.90
33258.85
30677.05
39409.90
29131.70
32802.10
38549.45

Relative Difference Between Initial and Final Momentum

100%
80%

Relative Difference (%)

60%
40%
20%
0%
-20%

-40%
-60%
-80%
-100%

Trial

The above data reflects the extent to which the initial momentum resembled the post-collision momentum. According to the Momentum Conversation Principle,
the initial momentum should equal the final momentum in a closed system. The % D column, reflecting the relative difference between the initial and final
total momentum reflects that most of our trials showed a relative difference of less than 10%. These similarities are profound, even despite some outliers, and
reinforce the notion that momentum in a closed system (unlike our own, which introduced variables such as friction) should be conserved.

-10%
-12%
-11%
-12%
-9%
-13%
-11%
-9%