Lab#9: Investigating the Physics of explosions using trolleys.

Aim: To investigate the Physics of explosions using trolleys.

Theory: This ab activity will guide you on how to momentum is conserved when
two trolleys are pushed apart by an 'explosion'. Firstly, the mass of the trolleys are
equal then one mass will increase. The velocity would not be affected' if fiction is
ignored.
The momentums of the trolleys would be zero before and after explosion' as each
trolley is moving in an opposite direction relative to each other.
Apparatus: trolleys, balance, stopwatch, metre rule, long bench, table or floor as a
track, 2 blocks of wood secured at end of track

DIAGRAM SHOWING APPARATUS USED TO COMPLETE THE EXPERIMENT

Method:

The two dynamics trolleys were put together in the middle of the bench, table or
floor. One trolley was labelled as trolley 1 and the other trolley was labelled as
trolley 2.Table 1was used for trolley l and table 2 was used for trolley 2; a balance
was used to measure the mass of both trolleys and this information was recorded in
the table below.

A block of wood was used at the end of the table or bench to stop the trolleys after
the explosion. They were equidistant from the middle of the bench. The distances
were measured and record in the table below.

The trolleys were positioned in the centre of the bench so that each trolley moves
the same distance after the explosion before hitting is' stop. The buffer rod was
contracted on the trolleys.
One of the buffer rods was released by a smart tap on the vertical release rod. The
trolleys flied apart. The stopwatch was used to measure the time each trolley takes
to hit each block. (+) was used for the speed of trolley 1 and for the speed of trolley
2. The results were recorded in the table below.
The mass of both trolleys were the same, m was used for the mass of each trolley.
The experiment was repeated.
The entire experiment was repeated by doubling the mass of one trolley by putting
an extra trolley on top.
Results:
TABLE 1 SHOWING RESULTS FOR TROLLEY 1

Trial no. Mass of Distance of Time for Velocity of Momentum

trolley trolley 1 trolley 1 to trolley of trolley
1/m/kg from hit block/t/s 1/+v/+ms-1 1/+p/+kgms-1
block/1/m

1 1.5 0.5 3 0.17 0.255

2 2.0 0.8 7 0.11 0.220
3 1.5 0.6 4 0.15 0.225
4 2.0 0.9 8.5 0.11 0.220

Calculations:
Velocity= Distance/Time
Trial no.1= 0.5 ÷ 3=0.17 +ms-1
Trial no.2=0.8 ÷ 7 =0.11 +ms-1
Trial no.3=0.6 ÷ 4 = 0.15 +ms-1
Trial no.4 = 0.9 ÷ 8.5= 0.11 +ms-1

Momentum= Mass* Velocity

Trial no.1= 1.5 × 0.17 = 0.255 +kgms-1
Trial no.2= 2.0 × 0.11 = 0.220 +kgms-1
Trial no.3= 1.5 × 0.15 = 0.225 +kgms-1
Trial no.4= 2.0 × 0.11 = 0.220 +kgms-1

Total Momentum of trolley 1: 0.920 +kgms-1

 TABLE 2 SHOWING RESULTS FOR TROLLEY 2
Trial no. Mass of Distance of Time for Velocity of Momentum
trolley trolley 2 trolley 2 to trolley of trolley
-1
2/m/kg from hit 2/+v/+ms 2/+p/+kgms-
1
block/1/m block/t/s
1 1.5 0.48 2.8 0.17 0.255
2 2.0 0.73 6.4 0.11 0.220
3 1.5 0.57 3.8 0.15 0.225
4 2.0 0.84 8.2 0.10 0.200

Calculations:
Velocity= Distance/Time
Trial no.1= 0.48 ÷ 2.8 = 0.17+ms-1
Trial no.2= 0.73 ÷ 6.4 = 0.11+ms-1
Trial no.3= 0.57 ÷ 3.8 = 0.15+ms-1
Trial no.4 = 0.84 ÷ 8.2 = 0.10+ms-1

Momentum= Mass* Velocity

Trial no.1= 1.5 × 0.17 = 0.255 +kgms-1
Trial no.2= 2.0 × 0.11 = 0.220 +kgms-1
Trial no.3= 1.5 × 0.15 = 0.225 +kgms-1
Trial no.4= 2.0 × 0.10 = 0.200 +kgms-1

Total Momentum of trolley 2: 0.900+kgms-1

Discussion: Momentum is a term used in physics to describe the quantity of motion
of a moving body, measured as a product of its mass and velocity. Moving objects
have momentum. This is the tendency of the object to keep moving in the same
direction unless acted on by an outside force. Momentum is the product of the
mass of a body and its velocity. Since it has both magnitude and direction,
momentum is a vector quantity which means that momentum has both magnitude
and direction. The equation for Momentum is p=mv, in this equation:
p is momentum
m is mass
v is the velocity
An elastic collision is defined as one in which there is no loss of kinetic energy in
the collision while an inelastic collision is one in which part of the kinetic energy is
changed to some other form of energy in the collision. In physics, a quantity is said
to be conserved if it remains constant. As it relates to the conservation of energy,
which is the notion that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, but only
changes form. Hence the total amount of it remains constant.
Formulae = mvcm = constant.
Sources of error:
1) surface was not completely flat
2) Trolleys were not released at the same time.
Precaution:
1) Use a flat level surface
2) Ensure time is correctly recorded.
Conclusion: The law of momentum was verified if it is assumed the energy of the
collision was conserved and other losses of energy such as sound and frictional
forces are considered negligible