EXPERIMENT 3:

INELASTIC COLLISION
 Example
Please rotate the task
cover report between the 3 experiments

page
 Producing a single report
• Due date is 3 days after your lab session.

• Discuss between the team members and distribute task to produce a single report
(hand written)

• Select a member(rotation basis) to compile them.

• Convert the report into a pdf format and send it to

• - itaalem (in your own group) or
• Lecturer’s email
• (consult your lecturer for the preferred platform)
 Motion
Cart 1 Sensor

Your right side Your left side

Motion
Sensor

Cart 2
FIGURE A: Layout of Inelastic Collision Experiment
View from the front of your lab table
FIGURE B: Digital Balance is used to measure the mass of the Cart
PROCEDURE: MEASURE MASS
1. Measure the mass of Cart 1 (with a block of mass 500 g). Record the total
mass as m1. Refer to FIGURE C.

2. Measure the mass of Cart 2. Record the mass as m . Refer to FIGURE D.

2

3. Place the track on the table and make sure it is level. Refer to FIGURE E.
FIGURE C: Weighing the total mass of Cart 1 and a block of mass 500 g
FIGURE D: Weighing the mass of Cart 2
FIGURE E: Levelling the Track
PROCEDURE: PLACING THE CART ON THE
TRACK
4. Place Cart 1 about 30 cm away from the motion sensor. Refer to FIGURE F.

5. Place Cart 2 about 30 cm away from the motion sensor. Refer to FIGURE G.

6. Make sure the separation distance between the carts is approximately

100 cm. Refer to FIGURE H.
FIGURE F: Distance between Motion Sensor and Cart 1 is 30 cm
FIGURE G: Distance between Motion Sensor and Cart 2 is 30 cm
FIGURE H: Distance between Cart 1 and Cart 2 is 100 cm
PROCEDURE:
7. Click ‘START’ button to start recording the data. Refer to FIGURE I.

Start button
FIGURE I: Start button on Data Studio P38 Linear Momentum.ds
PROCEDURE:
8. Push Cart 1 and Cart 2 simultaneously. Both carts should collide and
rebound after the collision. Refer to Video below.

V
I
D
E
O
PROCEDURE:
9. Click ‘STOP’ after the V
carts reach the ends
of the track. Next I
Video show the
Graph that will
D
appear on the screen. E
O
In
iti
al
S pe
e d
Fi
na
Sp l
ee
d
PROCEDURE:
10. Select a small portion just before
collision as in FIGURE J.

FIGURE J
11. Click the ‘Fit’ menu and select ‘Linear’
as in FIGURE K. The slope value is
speed.

FIGURE K
FIGURE L : Initial Speed of Cart 1
FIGURE M : Final Speed of Cart 1
FIGURE N : Initial Speed of Cart 2
FIGURE O : Final Speed of Cart 2
 PROCEDURE:

12. By considering the direction of the cart, record the Initial Velocity of Cart 1, v 1i from
FIGURE L, Final Velocity of Cart 1, v1f from FIGURE M, Initial Velocity of Cart 2, v2i
from FIGURE N, Final Velocity of Cart 2, v2f from FIGURE O including the
uncertainty (±) in TABLE 3.1. Record the unit of the velocity.
• You probably need to add negative sign to the slope value (slope value = speed) to
change it into velocity for the Cart.
• Each Motion Sensor measures motion away from it as ‘positive’ slope and toward it
as ‘negative’ slope.
  
   
Cart 1 Cart 2
 
     
Initial
Velocity, ()
____
 
     
Final
Velocity,
() ____
 

TABLE 3.1
TREATMENT OF RESULTS AND ERROR ANALYSIS
1. Examine your sketched graphs :
(a) Explain how the motions of the carts are represented on the graph.
(b) On the sketched graphs, identify the points where the collision occur.
2. Calculate :
(a) initial and final momentum of each cart
(b) total initial and final momentum of the collision
3. Calculate the percentage difference between initial and final momentum. Justify.
4. Calculate the total initial and final kinetic energy.
5. Calculate the energy loss in the collision. Express the amount of energy loss in
terms of percentage.
Percentage energy loss %
6. Discuss on the loss of energy in this collision.
 Conclusion

No. Characteristics Marks

1 Relate the result/analysis with the objectives 1

2 State the realiability of the result 1
State % of errors/differences of result
3 1
Acceptance value for Conservation Of Momentum is 10%
4 State error/precaution done, discussion or comment 1
TOTAL 4