Camille Barrientos

Per: 5
2-8-16
Inquiry Lab: Linear Momentum Concept Laboratory
Purpose: Demonstrate momentum in motion and determine how to solve for it as well as the
angle of two objects after collision.
Materials:

2 basketballs
meter stick
track
stopwatch
pen
notepad
triple beam balance

Part A:
1. Materials were gathered.
2. Tasks were assigned to each group member (time keeper, measurer, etc.)
3. Two basketballs are placed on a track with one placed in the middle. The distance was
then measured between the two balls.
4. The other basketball was timed once given a small push to collide with the stationary
basketball. Another timer was used to measure the time of which the previously
stationary basketball moved for.
5. The new distance between the two balls was then measured
6. The collision was repeated, but the momentum of ball A and ball B before and after
collision were determined.
Part B:
1. The same lab as Part A was repeated, but without a track. The balls in the lab should
have moved in multiple directions.
Data:
M1: 566 g/0.566 kg
M2: 565g/0.565 kg
Distance before collision: 54 cm = 0.54 cm
Velocity= distance/time 0.54/0.65=0.83 m/s
Distance after collision: 12 cm = 0.12 m. Velocity = distance/time 0.12/3.16 = 0.04 m/s
Time for Ball 1: 0.65 s
Time for Ball 2: 3.16 s
Inelastic equation: M a V a+ M b V b =V ab ( M a M b )
0.47 kg m/s + 0.03 kg m/s =1.31
Post-Lab Questions:

Part A:

V ab

V ab

= 0.44 kg m/s

Camille Barrientos
Per: 5
2-8-16
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

The velocity of Ball A before collision was 0.83 m/s

The velocity of Ball B before collision was 0 m/s
The momentum of Ball A before collision was 0.470 kg m/s
The momentum of Ball B before collision was 0 kg m/s
The velocity of Ball A after collision was 0.18 m/s
The velocity of Ball B after collision was 0.04 m/s
The momentum of Ball A after collision was 0.104 kg m/s
The momentum of Ball B after collision was 0.0226 kg m/s

Part B:
1. The momentum of Ball A before was 0.267 kg m/s
axis
Ball 1
Ball 2
Total

x
(0.566kg)(0.47 m/s)
0
0.267 kg m/s

y
0
0
0

2. The momentum of Ball B before was 0 kg m/s

axis
x
y
Ball 1
(0.566 kg)(0.6 m/s)(cosx)
(0.566kg)(0.6 m/s)(sinx)
Ball 2
(0.565 kg)(0.09 m/s)(cosx)
(0.565 kg)(0.09 m/s)(sinx)
Total
0.34cosx + (0.05)Vbcosx
0.0566sinx+(0.565)Vbsinx
.
x-direction:
0.267=0.34cosx+0.05Vbcosx
0.267=0.34Vx+0.05Vx
Vx=-0.684 cos^-1(0.684)=46.8 degrees
y-direction:
0=0.0566sinx+(0.565)Vbsinx
0=0.0566Vy+(0.565)Vy
To find the direction you could use SOHCAHTOA because you have the direction
of the x which is 46.8. 46.8=tan^-1(x/0.684)= 60.7 degrees. To solve for Vy the
law of sines could be used: 0.684/sin(60.7) = Vy/sin(46.8) and Vy = 0.572 m/s