EXPERIMENT 3

Conservation of Momentum

I. Objectives
✓ Students able to understand about Conservation of Momentum on explosions,
completely elastic collisions, and inelastic collisions
✓ Determine mass influence in various types of collisions in the experiment

II. Scope
Determination of:
1. Initial and final momentum by measuring mass of the cart, initial velocity before
collision and final velocity after collision occured
2. Momentum of each carts when explosions occured

A. Theory
The momentum of a cart depends on its mass and velocity.
Momentum = p
⃗⃗⃗ = mv
⃗⃗ (eq.3.1)

Figure 3.1
Complete Setup – Consevation of momentum

The direction of the momentum is the same as the direction of the velocity. During
a collision, the total momentum of the system of both carts is conserved because
the net force on the two-cart system is zero. This means that the total momentum
just before the collision is equal to the total momentum just after the collision. If
the momentum of one cart decreases, the momentum of the other cart increases by
the same amount. This is true regardless of the type of collision, and even in cases
where kinetic energy is not conserved. The law of conservation of momentum is
stated as
⃗⃗⃗ Total Before Collision = p
p ⃗⃗⃗ Total After Collision (eq.3.2)

Physics Guidance Computer Engineering Laboratory

Experiment 1 Page 1 of 9
 On every kind of collisions, including: explosions, completely elastic collisions,
elastic collisions, and unelastic collisions, the momentum will be conserved.
There are ways to determine elasticity in a collision. One of them is finding the
value of ‘e’ as explained below:

−(𝑣1′ − 𝑣2′ ) (eq.3.3)

𝑒=
𝑣1 − 𝑣2

If:
e=1 : completely elastic
0 < e < 1 : elastic
e=0 : completely inelastic

To find the momentum use below equation:

𝑃 = 𝑚 . 𝑉initial

Since we use 2 carts and both carts have different momentum values, the
combination of them would follow below equations:

𝑃 = 𝑃′

𝑚1𝑣1 + 𝑚2𝑣2 = 𝑚1𝑣1′ + 𝑚2𝑣2′

Physics Guidance Computer Engineering Laboratory

Experiment 1 Page 2 of 9
 B. Reference(s)
1. Hunt, C. (2017, April 30). Newton's Laws Experiment. Retrieved from
PASCO: https://www.pasco.com/prodCatalog/EX/EX-5503_newtons-laws-
experiment

2. PASCO Scientific. [Online]. Instruction Manual and Experiment Guide for

the PASCO scientific model SF-8607 dan SF-8608. Available:
https://www.pasco.com/file_downloads/product_manuals/Basic-Current-
Balance-Manual-SF-8607.pdf December 07,2015 [February 11, 2015]

3. http://thomasyg.staff.gunadarma.ac.id/Downloads/files/8195/Regresi+dan+
Korelasi.pdf

III. Devices

No. Equipment Name Code Type Configuration

Force:
Range ± 100 N
Resolution 0.1 N
Accuracy ± 2%
Max sampling rate 500 samples/s Smart Cart 1 pc
Position resolution ± 0.2 mm Hook 1 pc
1. Smart Cart Red ME-1240 Velocity: Rubber Bumper 1 pc
Max velocity ± 3 m/s Magnetic Bumper 1 pc
Max sample rate 100 samples/s USB cable 1 pc
Acceleration:
Range ± 16g (g= 9.8 m/s2)
Max sample rate 50 samples/s
Max wireless range 30 m
Force: Smart Cart 1 pc
Range ± 100 N Hook 1 pc
2. Smart Cart Blue ME-1241
Resolution 0.1 N Rubber Bumper 1 pc
Accuracy ± 2% Magnetic Bumper 1 pc

Physics Guidance Computer Engineering Laboratory

Experiment 1 Page 3 of 9
No. Equipment Name Code Type Configuration

Max sampling rate 500 samples/s USB cable 1 pc

Position resolution ± 0.2 mm
Velocity:
Max velocity ± 3 m/s
Max sample rate 100 samples/s
Acceleration:
Range ± 16g (g= 9.8 m/s2)
Max sample rate 50 samples/s
Max wireless range 30 m

3. Stackable Masses ME-6757A Weight 250 g 2 pcs

100 g Mass 3 pcs

50 g Mass 3 pcs
20 g Mass 6 pcs
10 g Mass 3 pcs
Mass and Hanger 5 g Mass 3 pcs
4. ME-8979 Mass Hanger 5 g ± 2%
Set 2 g Mass 3 pcs
1 g Mass 3 pcs
0.5 g Mass 3 pcs
Mass Hanger 4 pcs
Molded Storage Box 1 pc
Dynamics Track
5. ME-8972 2 pcs
Feet (set of 2)
Elastic Material
6. Elastic Bumpers ME-8998 Bracket 2 pcs
or Rubber Band
Super Pulley with
7. ME-9448B Fits tables thick 0 – 2 cm 1 pc
Clamp
Aluminum
8. ME-9493 Length 1.2 m
Dynamics Track
Braided Physics
9. SE-8050 Withstands up to 133 N 1 reel
String

Physics Guidance Computer Engineering Laboratory

Experiment 1 Page 4 of 9
 IV. Instruction of Laboratory
B. Procedure

1. Install the feet on the track and level it.

2. Orient the two carts on the track so their magnetic bumpers are toward each
other as shown in figure 3.5.
3. Test cases a through c described below the table. Draw two diagrams (one for
before the collision and one for after the collision) for each case.
4. In every diagram, show a velocity vector for each cart with a length that
approximately represents the relative speed of the cart.

5. For each of the conditions experimented, fill the data in the table 3.1, 3.2 and
3.3 below:
a. Explosion
1. Place both cart side by side with the plunger facing each other in the
middle.
2. Record the velocity of both carts after the explosion in order to measure
the momentum.
3. Find the velocity on these spot of the graph:

Picture 3.3. Equal mass explosion

Physics Guidance Computer Engineering Laboratory

Experiment 1 Page 5 of 9
 Picture 3.4 Unequal mass explosion

4. Repeat the steps by adding mass on m2 (one of the carts) based on the
informations needed to fill the table.
Table 3.1 Explosion
m2 (g) v1 (m/s) v2 (m/s) p1 (kg. m/s) p2(kg. m/s) ∆p
0
250 g
500 g

b. Perfectly Elastic Collision

1. Place one cart at rest in the middle of the track.
2. Give the other cart an initial velocity toward the cart at rest with the
magnet side of the carts facing each other on collided part of the carts.
3. Find the velocity on these spot of the graph:

Picture 3.5. Velocity of perfectly elastic colision with equal mass

Physics Guidance Computer Engineering Laboratory

Experiment 1 Page 6 of 9
 Picture 3.6. Velocity of perfectly elastic colision with unequal mass

4. Repeat the steps by adding mass on m2 (one of the carts) based on the
informations needed to fill the table.
Table 3.2 Perfectly Elastic Collision
V1 V2 V1’ P P’
m2 (g) V2’ (m/s)
(m/s) (m/s) (m/s) (kg.m/s) (kg.m/s)
0
250 g
500 g

c. Perfectly Inelastic Collision

1. Place one cart at rest in the middle of the track.
2. Give the other cart an initial velocity toward the cart at rest with the velcro
side of the carts facing each other on collided part of the carts.
3. Find the velocity on these spot of the graph:

Physics Guidance Computer Engineering Laboratory

Experiment 1 Page 7 of 9
 Picture 3.7. Final velocity of perfectly inelastic colision

Picture 3.8. Initial velocity of perfectly inelastic colision

4. Repeat the steps by adding mass on m2 (one of the carts) based on the
informations needed to fill the table.

Table 3.3 Perfectly Inelastic Collision

V2 V1’ P P’
m2 (g) V1 (m/s) V2’ (m/s)
(m/s) (m/s) (kg.m/s) (kg.m/s)
0
250 g
500 g

Physics Guidance Computer Engineering Laboratory

Experiment 1 Page 8 of 9
 C. Final Reports requirement for minimum grade
1. Draw and analyze the model of the system used in the experiment and its acting
forces.
2. Does the ratio of the distances equal the ratio of the masses in each of the cases?
In other words, is momentum conserved? Explain in analysis!
3. When carts of unequal masses push away from each other, which cart has more
momentum? Explain in analysis!
4. When the carts of unequal masses push away from each other, which cart has
more kinetic energy? Explain in analysis!
5. When two carts having the same mass and the same speed collide and stick
together, they stop. Is momentum conserved? Explain in analysis!
6. When two carts having the same mass and the same speed collide and bounce
off of each other elastically, what is the final total momentum of the carts?
Explain in analysis!
7. Proof from each of the experiments that the momentum before and after the
collision would be the same!
8. Analyze the relation of the variables in each experiment. Prove and compare the
relation based on the theory.
9. Write your conclusions for each experiment (at least 5).

V. Attachment

v1 : smartcar velocity without mass

v2 : mass added smartcar velocity

Physics Guidance Computer Engineering Laboratory

Experiment 1 Page 9 of 9