PHYS211 Lab

Experiment 5 Conservation of Energy

& Linear Momentum
Objective:
The objective of this experiment is to measure the speed of a ball as it leaves the ballistic pendulum and to
compare this value to that predicted by the conservation of momentum and energy.

Equipment:
Metal Ball
A4 papers

Theory:

Protractor
Carbon paper

Ruler
Meter sticks

Becks Ballistic Pendulum (spring gun)

Procedure:

Important Notes
Include the following details in your lab report (data analysis / discussions):
-

Analyze your results / calculations / graph / drawing / diagram obtained. Calculate the energy of the
system before and after the collision. What percentage of the initial energy remains after each collision?
What happened to this energy?

What could contribute to the error (discrepancy / percent error)? (Types of error)

How to improve your data/experiment? (Base on parameters)

Assumptions / precautions for this experiment.

Explain how your lab results can be consistent with the law of conservation of energy. Where did the
missing energy go?