7.04L2 Quantitative Collision Lab

Name ______Partners ______

Quantitative Collision Lab

Purpose: To experimentally verify that momentum is conserved during one-dimensional collisions.
Equipment needed:1 ramp with a plumb line, 1 c-clamp, 1 meter stick, 1 steel ball bearing, 1 Plastic marble, 2 sheets of paper to use as your target paper.

Procedure:

  1. Set up your ramp as shown in the illustration shown above. Clamp your ramp to the table so that it does not move during the experiment.
  2. Tape you target paper to the floor. Using your plumb line, mark the "edge of the table" on your target paper.
  3. Measure the mass of your steel ball and your Plastic marble. Record your answers in the table below.
  4. Measure the height of your table and record it in the table below.
  5. Release the steel ball 5 times from the top of the ramp and mark accurately where it hits the floor. Catch the ball each time after it initially strikes the target paper. Make sure that you record only one bounce per trial. When all 5 trials are done, circle your collision points and label them:
  6. Part I: Steel Ball Alone
  7. Carefully position the Plastic marble on the tip of the ruler Once again release the steel ball from the top of the ramp. This time both the Plastic marble and the steel ball will strike the paper. Make sure that you only record one bounce for each projectile. Repeat this process 5 times. Mark accurately where each ball hits the paper.
  8. When all 5 trials are done, circle your two groups of collision points and label them:
  9. Part II: Steel Ball After Collision
  10. Part II: Plastic Ball After Collision
  11. Using your meter stick, measure the range for each of 15 impact strikes on your target paper. Record your answers in the appropriate columns in the data table provided below.
  12. Calculate an average value for each group:
  13. Part I: Steel Ball Alone
  14. Part II: Steel Ball After Collision
  15. Part II: Plastic Marble After Collision

Data

Mass Data
Mass in Grams (g) / Mass in kg
(mass in grams/1000)
Steel Ball
Plastic Marble
Table Data and Final Vertical Velocity
Height of Table (m)
Initial vertical velocity (m/s)
Vertical Acceleration (m/s2) / 9.8 m/s2
Final Vertical Velocity on impact (m/s)
(vf = )
Time In Air
t =
Range Data for the Balls
Part 1 / Part 2
Trial / Steel Ball Alone / Steel Ball After / Plastic Marble After
1
2
3
4
5
Average

Note: To determine the average add the 5 measurements and divide by 5.

Horizontal Momentum Calculations
Mass (kg) / AverageRange / Horizontal Momentum
Steel Ball Alone
Steel Ball After
Plastic Marble After
Total Momentum of Plastic and Steel After

Experimental Error:

Using the information calculated in the previous table, determine your experimental error by calculating the percent difference between the total momentum for Part I and the total momentum for Part II.

% Difference =

% Difference =

In a short paragraph, write a summary of the lab. Include ideas on the conservation of momentum and reasons that there may have been a percent difference.

Momentum Problems

1. A 0.25 kg ball rolling at 1.0 m/s rolls and overtakes a 0.3 kg ball rolling in the same direction at 0.5 m/s. The balls stick together on impact. What is the velocity of the two balls after the collision?

Before the CollisionAfter the Collision

Your Solution?

2. Amy is rolling down the hallway in the science chair at 2 m/s. If the total mass of the chair and Amy is 45 kg, what would her momentum be?

3. How are impulse and momentum related? Explain.

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