Title

Momentum and Collisions

Abstract

The conservation of momentum is a very important concept in physics. In this lab

this was analyzed in multiple collision situations. This was done by causing elastic

collisions, inelastic collisions, and explosions of carts on a Dynamic Track. The analysis of

these values showed that momentum is conserved in all collisions. Additionally it showed

that kinetic energy is only conserved in elastic collisions. This proved that momentum is in

fact conserved. The slight discrepancies in the values of initial and final momentum can be

explained by some sources of error. Additionally, the lab taught how to complete momentum

calculations, and the law of conservation of momentum.

Introduction

In physics momentum is always conserved. All objects have momentum, even if it is

zero, and momentum cannot be lost. Momentum (p) can be calculated by multiplying mass

(m) by velocity (v) in the following equation.

p=mv

Because momentum is conserved we can state that the final momentum of a system is equal

to the initial momentum of a system in the following equation.

m 1 v 1 +m 2 v 2 =m 1 v 1 +m 2 v 2
i i f f

This equation can become a powerful tool when analyzing all types of collisions.

Collisions occur when two or more objects collide, and can be either elastic, or

inelastic. In elastic collisions the objects that collide do not stick together, and both continue

on with new velocities after the collision. In inelastic collisions the objects stick together

after they collide. They then continue on together with one final velocity. An example of an

elastic collision is a cue ball striking a billiards ball initially at rest. The cue ball strikes the
billiards ball and loses velocity after the collision occurs and the billiards ball gains velocity

after the collision. The sums of the multiples of each balls mass and velocity before and after

the collision should be equal as is shown in the above equation for the conservation of

momentum.

In this lab two carts will undergo elastic collisions, inelastic collisions, and explosions

on a Vernier Dynamic Track. This will teach how to do momentum calculations for a variety

of different situations where momentum is conserved - calculations that will illustrate the

nature of momentum, and the fact that momentum is in fact conserved. Additionally, the lab

will teach how to properly use Dynamic Tracks, which will be a valuable lab skill in the

future.

It is hypothesized that momentum will be conserved in all conditions tested in the

experiment. This is because of the law of conservation of momentum. Momentum cannot be

lost in a collision. Therefore all the momentum from the object that is initially moving will

be transferred to the other object. In experimental situations the numbers will not come out

to be exactly perfect, but if the ration of the momentums is close to one it will indicate that

momentum has been conserved.

Methods

To begin the lab a Vernier Dynamic Track was set up and leveled on a table.

Attached to the track were two Photogate sensors. These sensors were attached to a

computer, which was running the Logger Pro program, through a Vernier computer interface.

Two carts, that had already been weighed, were placed in the track. One cart was a standard

cart with a rod on top. This rod would be used to break the photon beam in the Photogate

sensor, and send a signal to the computer. The other cart was a plunger cart, which contained

a spring activated plunger that could push the carts apart. This cart also had a rod to assist in

readings. The Logger Pro program was set up so that it would collect the Gate Time from
each Photogate sensor. This would give the velocity of each cart.

The first condition tested was elastic collisions. The carts were placed on the track so

that the magnet containing ends of the carts were facing each other. This would force the

carts to repel each other and not stick together during collision. The standard cart was pushed

towards the plunger cart, which was at rest. When the standard cart reached the plunger cart

they collided, but did not stick together, and the plunger cart moved down the track. The

standard cart moved to a velocity of zero and was still. The initial velocity of the standard

cart and the final velocity of the plunger cart were the readings from the first and second

Photogate sensors, respectively, on the Logger Pro program. These values were recorded,

and the procedure was repeated five additional times for a total of six readings.

The next condition tested was inelastic collisions. The carts were placed on the track

so that the Velcro side of each cart was facing the other. This would force the carts to stick

together after collision. The standard cart was pushed towards the plunger cart, which was at

rest. When the standard cart reached the plunger cart they collided, stuck together, and

continued down the track with a new velocity. The initial velocity of the standard cart and

the final velocity of both carts, moving together as one, were measured using the Photogate

sensors. On the Logger Pro program the reading from the first sensor was the initial velocity

of the standard cart, and the reading from the second sensor was the final velocity of both

carts. These values were recorded, and the procedure was repeated two additional times for a

total of three readings.

The final condition tested was explosions. In this condition the two carts were placed

together in the center if the Photogate Sensors. They were joined together by the Velcro, and

the plunger was pushed into the plunger cart. A rod was used to push down the button on top

of the plunger cart. This button released the plunger, and propelled both carts down the track

in opposite directions. The Photogate sensors were used to measure the velocity of each cart
as it moved from the explosion site. The first Photogate sensor measured the velocity of the

standard cart, and the second Photogate sensor measured the velocity of the plunger cart. The

values of the velocities were shown on the Logger Pro program. These values were

recorded, and the procedure was repeated two more times for a total of three readings.

Results

The analysis of the results of this experiment shows that momentum was conserved in

all types of collisions. In each calculation below the initial momentum is calculated using the

following formula.

pi=m1 v 1 + m2 v 2
i i

The final momentum for each condition was calculated using the following formula.

pf =m 1 v 1 +m 2 v 2
f f

The ratio of the final momentum to the initial momentum was calculated for all conditions

except the explosion. This was calculated using the following formula.

pf
=momentum ratio
pi

The raw data readings for the elastic collisions are shown below.

Cart 1 Cart 2
Run Mass (kg) Initial Final Mass (kg) Initial Final
Velocity Velocity Velocity Velocity
(ms-1) (ms-1 ) (ms-1) (ms-1)
1 .51934 2.735 0 .52338 0 2.674
2 .51934 3.171 0 .52338 0 3.093
3 .51934 3.073 0 .52338 0 2.996
4 .51934 2.754 0 .52338 0 2.693
5 .51934 3.271 0 .52338 0 3.188
6 .51934 2.571 0 .52338 0 2.513

After the lab was over this data was analyzed using the equations above to give the following
values.

Before After Ratio

Run Momentum Momentum Momentum Momentum Momentu Momentum pf
of Cart 1 of Cart 2 of System of Cart 1 m of Cart2 of System pi
-1 -1 -1
(kg*ms ) (kg*ms ) (kg*ms ) (kg*ms-1 (kg*ms-1) (kg*ms-1)
1 1.420 0 1.420 0 1.399 1.399 .9856
2 1.647 0 1.647 0 1.618 1.618 .9824
3 1.596 0 1.596 0 1.568 1.568 .9825
4 1.430 0 1.430 0 1.409 1.409 .9853
5 1.699 0 1.699 0 1.669 1.669 .9852
6 1.335 0 1.335 0 1.315 1.315 .9850

The values of the momentum ratio are very close to one which indicates that the momentum

is conserved in the experiment. The kinetic energy before and after the system was then

computed using the following equation.

1
Ek = m v 2
2

After these values were calculated the ratio of the final kinetic energy to the initial kinetic

energy was calculated in order to compare the values. These results are shown in the table

below.

Before After Ratio

Run Mass (kg) Velocity Kinetic Mass (kg) Velocity Kinetic KE after
(ms-1) Energy (ms-1) Energy KE before
(J) (J)
1 .51934 2.735 1.942 .52338 2.674 1.871 .9634
2 .51934 3.171 2.611 .52338 3.093 2.503 .9586
3 .51934 3.073 2.452 .52338 2.996 2.349 .9580
4 .51934 2.754 1.969 .52338 2.693 1.898 .9639
5 .51934 3.271 2.778 .52338 3.188 2.668 .9604
6 .519341 2.571 1.716 .52338 2.513 1.655 .9645

The fact that the kinetic energy ratio was very close to one shows that the kinetic energy is

conserved in elastic collisions.

The raw data for the inelastic collisions is shown below.

Cart 1 Cart 2
Run Mass (kg) Initial Final Mass (kg) Initial Final
 Velocity Velocity Velocity Velocity
(ms-1) (ms-1) (ms-1) (ms-1)
1 .51934 3.029 1.561 .52338 0 1.561
2 .51934 2.204 1.067 .52338 0 1.067
3 .51934 1.963 .938 .52338 0 .938

After the lab this data was analyzed using the momentum equations above to give the

following values.

Before After Ratio

Run Momentu Momentum Momentum Momentum Momentum Momentum pf
m of Cart 1 of Cart 2 of System of Cart 1 of Cart 2 of System pi
(kg*ms-1) (kg*ms-1) (kg*ms-1) (kg*ms-1) (kg*ms-1) (kg*ms-1)
1 1.573 0 1.573 .8106 .8170 1.6276 1.035
2 1.145 0 1.145 .5341 .5584 1.0925 .9541
3 1.019 0 1.019 .4871 .4909 .97800 .9598

The values of the momentum ratio are very close to one which indicates that the momentum

is conserved in the experiment. The kinetic energy before and after the system was then

computed using the above kinetic energy equation. After these values were calculated the

ratio of the final kinetic energy to the initial kinetic energy was calculated in order to

compare the values. These results are shown in the table below.

Before After Ratio

Run Mass (kg) Velocity Kinetic Mass (kg) Velocity Kinetic KE after
(ms-1) Energy (ms-1) Energy KE before
(J) (J)
1 .51934 3.029 2.382 1.04272 1.561 1.280 .5374
2 .51934 2.204 1.261 1.04272 1.067 .5936 .4707
3 .51934 1.963 1.001 1.04272 .938 .4587 .4582
The fact that the kinetic energy ratio was very far from one shows that the kinetic energy is

not conserved in inelastic collisions.

The raw data for the explosions is shown below.

Cart 1 Cart 2
Run Mass (kg) Initial Final Mass (kg) Initial Final
Velocity Velocity Velocity Velocity
(ms-1) (ms-1) (ms-1) (ms-1)
1 .51934 0 -3.242 .52338 0 3.269
2 .51934 0 -3.248 .52338 0 2.954
3 .51934 0 -3.357 .52338 0 3.141

After the lab this data was analyzed using the momentum equarstions above to give the

following values.

Before After Ratio

Run Momentu Momentu Momentu Momentu Momentu Momentu %
m of Cart m of Cart m of m of Cart m of Cart m of Difference
1 (kg*ms- 2 (kg*ms- System 1 (kg*ms- 2 (kg*ms- System of final
1 1
) ) (kg*ms-1) 1
) 1
) (kg*ms-1) momentum
s
1 0 0 0 -1.684 1.711 .027 1.59%
2 0 0 0 -1.687 1.546 -.141 8.72%
3 0 0 0 -1.743 1.644 -.099 5.85%

The percent difference was calculated using the following formula.

Absolute Difference
×100 %
Average

Because the percent differences were relatively close to zero the momentum of the system

was conserved. The kinetic energy before and after the system was then computed using the

above kinetic energy equation. After these values were calculated the ratio of the final

kinetic energy to the initial kinetic energy was calculated in order to compare the values.

These results are shown in the table below.

 Before After Ratio
Run Mass Velocity Kinetic Mass Velocity Velocity Kinetic KE after
(kg) (ms-1) Energy (kg) 1 (ms-1) 2 (ms-1) Energy KE
(J) (J) before
1 1.04272 0 0 1.04272 -3.242 3.269 5.526 5.526
2 1.04272 0 0 1.04272 -3.248 2.954 5.026 5.026
3 1.04272 0 0 1.04272 -3.357 3.141 5.506 5.506

The fact that the kinetic energy ratio was very far from one shows that the kinetic energy is

not conserved in explosions.

Discussion

In this lab it was found that momentum was conserved in each of the situations above.

This is true because the value of the ratio of the momentum after to the momentum before

was relatively close to one, or zero in the case of the percent difference for the momentum of

the explosions. This proves that momentum is conserved in collisions. However, the

analysis of kinetic energies proved that kinetic energy is not always conserved. In elastic

collisions kinetic energy was always conserved. Therefore elastic collisions can be defined

as collisions in which kinetic energy is conserved. In inelastic collisions kinetic energy was

not conserved because the value of the ratio of initial and final kinetic energy was not close to

one. Therefore inelastic collisions can be defined as collisions in which kinetic energy is not

conserved. In explosions the kinetic energy increased greatly after the explosion occurred.

This increase can be explained by the fact that the potential energy of the spring, that was

holding the plunger back, was transferred to kinetic energy as the plunger was released.

There are multiple possible sources of error in this experiment. The most major of

these is deceleration due to the force of friction. This could have caused the velocities to be

slower than they should have been because there was a velocity due to the friction. If this

was added in to the momentum equation the ration of the final over the initial momentum

would likely be much closer to one.

 Conclusion

This lab taught how to do calculations for multiple situations that involve momentum.

These calculations illustrated the nature of momentum, and showed that momentum is always

conserved. This taught the very important concept of the conservation of momentum.

Additionally the lab taught how to properly work with carts on a Dynamic Track. This is a

valuable physics lab skill.