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Conservation of Linear Momentum

Your signature indicates that you have completely read the entire report and agree with
everything here in. Failure to sign will result in a zero for your personal grade unless a formal
exception is filed with your TA.

Please Print and Sign Full Name

Principal investigator: _Ben Chesney_______________________________________

Skeptic: _Adam Horvath_______________________________________

Researcher _John Patterson_______________________________________

TA _EmreGuler_________________________________________

Lab Report Score:________________

Role I DC AD RC Q1 Q2 PI PG

Legend:
I introduction
DC data and calculation
AD analysis and discussion
RC results and conclusion
Q1/Q2 quiz/prelab
PI principal investigator points
PG personal grade (average of individual score and Lab Report Score)

'


 This lab means to explore the law of Conservation of Linear Momentum which states that
the linear momentum of a certain system has a constant direction and magnitude if the system is
not subject to any external force. This idea is more commonly stated as Newton¶s 2nd law of
motion. Conservation of momentum implies that the total momentum of the system measured
before the collision must equal the total momentum of the system after the collision. To prove
this law, we performed a simple experiment involving an inelastic collision between a ball with a
cart and track mechanism. The comparison of the momentum of the system before and after the
collision should show the measure of conservation of momentum.

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— 
 
       
1.1. Researcher: John Patterson
1.2. Skeptic: Adam Horvath
1.3. Principal Investigator: Ben Chesney

È  2 

2.1. Pasco Ballistic Pendulum (Pendulum removed) (SN: ME-6831-4)
2.2. TI-84 Silver Edition Calculator (SN: 2235018035 S-0106F)
2.3. Pasco Photogate Timer (SN: ME-9215A-14)
2.4. TI-CBR (Calculator Based Ranger[Sonic Motion Detector]) (SN: 5-030003366-1-0897A)
2.5. Pasco 2 Meter Cart Track with cart and projectile catcher (SN: ME-9450-7)
2.6.Ohaus Triple Beam Balance (SN: Placeholder)
2.7.Carpenter¶s Level
2.8. Ramrod
2.9. Steel ball (0.025m)

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    2 

3.1. Cart track aligned on the lab table surface
3.1.1. Carpenter¶s level run along the track in 10cm intervals both perpendicular and
parallel to the running surface to make sure it is perfectly level.
3.1.2. Adjusted the track accordingly
3.2.The Cart is placed per instruction 0.05m from the launcher
3.2.1. The Pasco Ballistic Pendulum (launcher) is leveled with the carpenter¶s level
3.2.2. The launcher is aligned with the cart track and catching mechanism on top of
the cart
3.2.3. The photogate timer is aligned at the diameter of the ball¶s position ready to
calculate the time it takes to pass through its beam.
3.2.4. Photogate tests are run in order to make sure that it is set up correctly.
 3.2.5. Photogate error is calculated here by launching the ball ten times and finding
the average time, and calculating the standard deviation.
3.3.The ball is rammed into the Pasco Ballistic Pendulum on the µHigh¶ setting.
3.3.1. The projectile is fired and the time is recorded in table 1 of the lab manual.
3.3.1.1. This process is repeated four more times.

ü   
4.1. The CBR is connected to the TI-84 Silver Edition Calculator in order to collect
graphing data.
4.2. The projectile catcher is reset
4.3. The launcher is set to the highest tension setting; waiting launch.
4.4. The Principle Investigator stands ready to initiate the CBR while the Researcher
prepares to pull the firing mechanism on the launcher.
4.4.1. A simple countdown ensures synchronization.
4.4.2. The Researcher does not move in order to not interfere with the CBR
collecting sonar information.
4.4.3. The CBR records the data.
4.4.4. The TI-84 calculator is then connected to the lab computer in order to upload
the graphical data plotted by the CBR¶s collection run.
4.4.5. The graph comparing velocity (y coordinate) versus time (x coordinate) is
observed
4.4.6. Data concerning the Beginning, Middle, and End were identified by using the
³Trace´ method during the graphical view of the data.
4.4.7. These results were recorded in Table 2 of the lab manual.

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5.1. The mass of the steel ball was measured by placing it directly in the center of the
Ohaus Triple Beam Balance.
5.2. The value was recorded in Table 3 of the lab manual.
5.3. This process is repeated twice more for the cart and the ball catcher.

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6.1.Momentum of the system before collision was calculated and recorded in Table 4 of
the lab manual.
6.2. Momentum of the system after collision was calculated and recorded in Table 4 of
the lab manual.
6.3.Percent difference was calculated to compare the momentum before and after
collision and was recorded in Table 4 of the lab manual.
4

 

1. First meeting: Sunday March 06, 2011.

1.1. Members in attendance include Researcher John Patterson, Skeptic Adam
Horvath, and Principle Investigator Ben Chesney.
1.2. We compared our raw data sheets to clear up any mistakes made in the coping
process.
1.3. We discussed our roles in more detail; what we needed to do and when we
needed to have it done.
1.4. We then proceeded to work on our individual parts.

2. Second meeting Placeholder

3. Third meeting Placeholder

V

Appendices ± Placeholder (still choosing appendices)

Steve Ellis website ± Placeholder

Lab Manual ± Placeholder

Possible previous labs ± Placeholder

Any other possible references ± placeholder

     


In Table 1, the objective was to calculate the mean velocity. Before this value could be
determined however, we had to calculate the velocity of each test by using the given ball
dimensions (double checked by micrometer measurement) of 25mm, or 0.025m and the time
measured by the photogate timer.

Using these variables, we calculate the velocity of each test by using Eqn. 1 below.

Eqn. 1:

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ܸ଴ ൌ 
‫ۄ ݐۃ‬

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ܸ଴ ൌ  ൌ ͷǤ͵ͳͻͳͶͺ ݉Τ‫ݏ‬
ͲǤͲͲͶ͹‫ݏ‬
After calculating each individual velocity, the mean velocity can be calculated by taking a simple average
of all of the previous velocities using Eqn. 2 defined below.

Eqn. 2:

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ܸ௠௘௔௡ ൌ 
ͷ
Example:

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ܸ௠௘௔௡ ൌ  ൌ ͷǤ͵ͺͺͷʹͻ
ͷ ‫ݏ‬

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Ball Diameter (m) = 0.025
Trial Time (s) Velocity (m/s)
1 0.0047 5.319148
2 0.0047 5.319148
3 0.0046 5.434785
4 0.0046 5.434785
5 0.0046 4.434785
Mean Velocity (m/s) = 5.388529

Table 2 measurements were found solely on the data collected and logged by the CBR
(calculator based ranger). The beginning region was estimated as a µstarting position¶ by using
the TRACE method while viewing the graph on the calculator. The middle and end regions were
estimated the same way, except for being in the middle and at the end of the graph line
respectively. The x coordinate was used as the variable for time and the y coordinate as velocity.

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Data Region Sampled Time (s) Velocity (m/s)
Beginning 0.86016 0.52483
Middle 1.72032 0.38690
End 2.52672 0.35115
The values measured and recorded in Table 3 come directly from the mass calculated by placing
the physical objects on the Ohaus Triple Beam Balance. The balance originally gives a result in
grams, but in order to conform to the SI standard of kilograms, the values measured were divided
by 1000 to convert the units.

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Steel Ball 0.0666 kg
Cart 0.4896 kg
Ball Catcher 0.1603 kg

In Table 4, the system momentum before collision is calculated by using the mass of the ball and
the mean velocity to form Eqn. 3 as defined below.

Eqn. 3:

z௕௘௙௢௥௘ ൌ  ሺ‫ܯ‬௕௔௟௟ ‫ܸ כ‬௠௘௔௡ ሻ

݉ ݇݃ ‫݉ כ‬
Example:

z௕௘௙௢௥௘ ൌ  ቀͲǤͲ͸͸͸݇݃ ‫ כ‬ͷǤ͵ͺͺͷʹͻ ቁ ൌ ͲǤ͵ͷͺͺ͹͸Ͳ

‫ݏ‬ ‫ݏ‬
Similarly, the system momentum after collision is calculated by summing up the entire mass of
the system found in Table 3 and multiplying the respective beginning/middle/end velocities
noted in Table 2. This is summarized in Eqn. 4 defined below.

Eqn. 4: (note that ܸ௕௘௚௜௡ is interchanged with ܸ௠௜ௗௗ௟௘ and ܸ௘௡ௗ respectively)

z௔௙௧௘௥ ൌ ሺσ݉ሻ ‫ܸ כ‬௕௘௚௜௡

z௔௙௧௘௥ ൌ ሺ‫ܯ‬௕௔௟௟ ൅  ‫ܯ‬௖௔௥௧ ൅  ‫ܯ‬௖௔௧௖௛௘௥ ሻ ‫ܸ כ‬௕௘௚௜௡

Example:

݉ ݇݃ ‫݉ כ‬
z௔௙௧௘௥ ൌ ሺͲǤͲ͸͸͸݇݃ ൅ ͲǤͶͺͻ͸݇݃ ൅ ͲǤͳ͸Ͳ͵݇݃ሻ ‫Ͳ כ‬ǤͷʹͶͺ͵ ൌ ͲǤ͵͹͸Ͳͷ
‫ݏ‬ ‫ݏ‬
Percent difference was also found using Eqn. 5 defined below.

Eqn. 5:

z௕௘௙௢௥௘ െ z௔௙௧௘௥
z
 ‫ 
݂݂݅ܦݐ‬ൌ ቤ ቤ ‫ͲͲͳ כ‬
z௕௘௙௢௥௘

Example:

ͲǤ͵ͷͺͺͺ െ ͲǤ͵͹͸Ͳͷ
ฬ ฬ ‫ͲͲͳ כ‬
ͲǤ͵ͷͺͺͺ
െͲǤͲͳ͹ͳ͹
ฬ ฬ ‫ ͲͲͳ כ‬ൌ ͶǤ͹ͺͶ͵Ψ
ͲǤ͵ͷͺͺͺ

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System Momentum Final Velocity Data System Momentum % Difference
Before Collision Sample Region After Collision
Z௚‫כ‬௠ Z௚‫כ‬௠
௦ ௦
0.35888 Beginning 0.37605 4.7843 %
Z௚‫כ‬௠ Z௚‫כ‬௠
௦ ௦
0.35888 Middle 0.27722 22.754 %
Z௚‫כ‬௠ Z௚‫כ‬௠
௦ ௦
0.35888 End 0.25161 29.890 %

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Results and Conclusion

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While the data collected by the CBR and the TI-83 was accurate and precise, human and
equipment error never allowed for a perfect trial to be performed. Each time we launched the
ball, the back wheels of the cart would pop out of its grooves and grind along the track. That was
caused by our launch angle not being exactly 180 degrees. The experiment¶s manual told us to
assume that the track is frictionless; however, with this observation and the data, we can see that
friction affected our experiment, whether or not we were supposed to take it into account in our
data collection.

<< After inserting graphs, insert paragraph here explaining the paragraph above with
statistical evidence>>

<<Also!! After inserting graphs, insert paragraph here evaluating and discussing the data
and why it is the way it is >>

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