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.

m1 v 1 +m2 v 2 =m1 v 1 + m2 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. Therefor 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 =m1 v 1 + m2 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 (
m m m m
) ) ) )
s s s s
 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 Momentu Momentum Momentum pf
of Cart 1 ( of Cart 2 ( of System ( m of Cart 1 of Cart 2 ( of System ( pi
kg∗m kg∗m kg∗m kg∗m kg∗m kg∗m
¿ ¿ ¿ ( ¿ ¿ ¿
s s s s s s
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 2
Ek = m v
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
m Energy m Energy KE before
) )
s (J) s (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 (
m m m m
) ) ) )
s s s s
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 Momentum Momentum Momentum Momentum Momentum Momentum pf
of Cart 1 ( of Cart 2 ( of System ( of Cart 1 ( of Cart 2 ( of System ( pi
kg∗m kg∗m kg∗m kg∗m kg∗m kg∗m
¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿
s s s s s s
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
m Energy m Energy KE before
) )
s (J) s (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 (
m m m m
) ) ) )
s s s s
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 equations above to give the following

values.

Before After Ratio

Ru Momentu Momentu Momentu Momentu Momentu Momentu %
n m of Cart m of Cart m of m of Cart m of Cart m of Difference
System ( System ( of final
 kg∗m kg∗m kg∗m kg∗m kg∗m kg∗m momentum
1( ¿ 2( ¿ ¿ 1( ¿ 2( ¿ ¿
s s s s s s 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) m Energy (kg) m m Energy KE
( ) 1( ) 2( )
s (J) s s (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. Therefor 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. Therefor 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.