Conservation of Momentum and Energy Lab Assignment

SPH4U, PHYSICS
RIBBA PATHAN
JULY 6, 2017
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1. Using the data from Steps #1 and #2 and projectile equations, calculate the horizontal velocity of the ball
just before it leaves the table.

From observation table we calculate the horizontal velocity of ball when away from the table.
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2. Using the data from Step #3 and the velocity found above, compare the gravitational potential energy of the
ball at the top of the incline, with the kinetic energy of the ball just before it leaves the table. (you do not
need to know the mass, just let it equal m). Is mechanical energy being conserved? Discuss.

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3. Using the data from Steps #2 and #4, determine the horizontal velocity of the target ball, just before it left the
table.
Using that velocity, and the information from above, compare the total momentum just before the collision
with the total momentum after the collision. (again let the masses of the balls be m)
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Hence our results show that, the total momentum just before the collision is not equal to the total
momentum after the collision. Thus, the law of conversation of momentum is not being
followed, this is because our system is not a perfect system as momentum is always conserved in
all collisions, may it be elastic or inelastic. The difference in the values could have arisen from
the discrepancies in the masses of the two objects, as they might not be equal or the presence of
friction between the ramp and the object. In addition, sources of human error could have also
contributed to the inequality, such as inaccurate measurement of distance, non-straight trajectory
of the projectile etc.
4.Discuss the laws of mechanical energy conservation and momentum conservation and relate it to the
various steps of this experiment.
The law of mechanical energy conservation states that the mechanical energy of an isolated
system remains constant without friction. This means that the sum of the initial kinetic and
potential energies is equal to the final kinetic and potential energies. We utilised this principle
earlier in our experiment to test whether mechanical energy was being conserved or not.
Meanwhile, the law of momentum conservation states that for a collision occurring between
both the object in an isolated system, the total momentum of the two objects before the collision
is equal to the total momentum of the two objects after the collision. That is, the momentum lost
by object 1 is equal to the momentum gained by object 2. We exercised this law when we were
comparing the momentum of the system before the collision and after the collision. Which
allowed us to determine to what degree the law of momentum conservation was being followed.

Conclusion
The results show us that our experiment had many limitations, which inhibited us from our
desired results. As our system was not an isolated system, due to the presence of friction and
other forces but nevertheless, it supported the laws of conservation of momentum and energy to a
high degree and therefore holds true our hypothesis.

References : Virtual high schools books