Physics Name: __________________________

Lab/Activity
Conservation of Momentum Date: _________________ Hour: ___

Purpose
The purpose of this lab is to estimate the speed of an object by applying the conservation of momentum to an inelastic
collision.

Required Equipment
Opposite types of Velcro hook and loop fastener tape Toy car
Toy dart gun with suction rubber darts Stopwatch
Meter stick Balance

Discussion
If you catch a heavy ball while standing motionless on a skateboard, the momentum of the ball is transferred to you and
sets you in motion. If you measure your speed and the masses of the ball, the skateboard and yourself, then you can
determine the momentum of everything just after the ball is caught. From the law of the conservation of momentum, this
is equal to the momentum of the ball just before it was caught. To find the speed of the ball just before you caught it,
divide the momentum of the system by the mass of the ball. A similar technique is used to determine the speed of high
velocity bullets in the laboratory. A bullet of known mass is shot into a stationary block of wood and the speed of the
block is measured immediately after the collision. In this experiment, you will find the speeds of a toy dart before and
after it collides with a toy car.

Procedure
Step 1: Fasten one type of Velcro tape to the back end of a toy car of low mass and low-friction
wheel. Fasten the opposite type of Velcro to the suction-cup end of a rubber dart. When
the toy car is hit, it must be free to coast in a straight line on a level table or floor until it comes to a stop. Practice
shooting the dart onto the back end of the car. The dart should stick to the car and cause it to coast.
Step 2: Measure the distance and time that the car coasts after it is hit by the dart, until it comes
to a stop. Record your data in the attached table. Repeat for two more trials.
Step 3: Calculate the average speed of the car after impact for the three trials and record you data
in the table.
Step 4: Find the masses needed to compute the momenta.
Step 5: Write an equation showing the momenta before and after the collision.
Step 6: Compute the initial speed of the dart before impact for each of the three trials. Record your values in the table.

Answer the following questions:

1. What is the relationship between the momentum of the dart before the impact and the combined momentum of the dart
and car just immediately after impact?

2. Was the speed of the car constant as it coasted? Explain.

3. Is the momentum of the tailgated car constant the whole time it is moving? Explain.
Mass of Car (g): __________________________ Mass of Dart (g): _________________________

Mass of Car (kg): _________________________ Mass of Dart (kg): ________________________

  Coasting Coasting Final Velocity of Initial Velocity of

  Distance Time Car and Dart Car and Dart
Trial (m) (s) (m/s) (m/s)
           
1        
           
         
2        
         
           
3        
           

Calculate the initial velocity (vi) of the combined car and dart immediately after impact using a linear motion formula.

  *Final Velocity of
  Initial Velocity of Initial Velocity of Car and Dart
Car Before Dart Before after Impact
Trial Impact (m/s) Impact (m/s) (m/s)
       
1      
       
       
2      
       
       
3      
       

*Note - This is the value for vi that you obtained in your previous calculations!
Calculate the initial velocity of the dart (vi) as it left the gun using the Conservation of Momentum.
Attach work on loose leaf.