Physics Laboratory Report
Lab 126: Conservation of Momentum and Impulse Theorem
Anurag Agarwal Group 6
10/29/21 11/05/21
Physics 111A-025 Ivan Oparin
Abhay Krishna, Zarrar Nawaz, Ghulam Ahmed
INTRODUCTION
In this 3-part lab, there was a glider on a frictionless air track which would collide with an object.
In the first part, there were 2 gliders with one at rest and the other glider would be pushed and
hit the glider at rest which would cause them both to go through photogates and would bounce
off each other with a total of 3 trials with different masses. In the second part, an ultrasonic
sensor was used, and it is the same as part 1 except the gliders stick together. In the third part,
there would only be one glider which would be pushed and hit a force sensor and would bounce
with a total of 3 experiments with different mass. In the first and second part what was being
examined was the momentum and kinetic energy before and after the collision. In the third part
what was being examined was the impulse of the glider. The objective of this lab was to verify
the conservation of momentum for fully elastic and totally inelastic collisions which is part 1 and
2, respectively. The other objective was to verify the impulse-momentum by comparing the
impulse and the change in momentum which is part 3. Theoretically in an elastic and inelastic
the collision the momentum is conserved so they should be the same before and after the
collision. In an elastic collision the kinetic energy is conserved while in an inelastic collision it is
not. Also, impulse is equal to 𝐽 = 𝑓 ∆𝑡 = ∫ 𝐹(𝑡)𝑑𝑡 = ∆𝑃 = 𝑃 − 𝑃 which is the
impulse-momentum theorem.
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
Equipment Used: Computer with Capstone software installed, Air track, Air supply with a hose,
Photogates (x2) with accessories including a photogate flag (also called a reflector), a bumper,
an inelastic collision needle, a wax receptacle, and glider masses (x4), Motion sensor, Force
Sensor, Electronic balance, and Vernier caliper on the counter.
, Variables:
1. Mass = 𝑀# – Mass of Gliders
2. Velocity = 𝑉# – Velocity Before Collision
3. Velocity = 𝑉# – Velocity After Collision
4. Momentum = 𝑃# – Momentum Before Collision
5. Momentum = 𝑃# – Momentum After Collision
6. Kinetic Energy = 𝐾𝐸# – Kinetic Energy Before Collision
7. Kinetic Energy = 𝐾𝐸# – Kinetic Energy After Collision
8. Impulse =J – Forceavg times change in time
9. Impulse = ∆P – Change in Momentum
10. Time = ∆t – Change in Time
RESULTS (Raw data)
Part 1
Table 1: Elastic Collision
Trial # M1 [kg] M2 [kg] V1 [m/s] V1’ [m/s] V2 [m/s] V2’ [m/s]
0.20619 0.7563 0.0000 0.0000 0.7562
1 0.2066 kg
kg m/s m/s m/s m/s
0.30648 0.9496 -0.1294 0.0000 0.7554
2 0.2066 kg
kg m/s m/s m/s m/s
0.40659 0.9340 -0.2694 0.0000 0.6196
3 0.2066 kg
kg m/s m/s m/s m/s
% Difference in
Trial P1 P2 Total P P1’ P2’ Total P’ total P before
# [kg*m/s] [kg*m/s] [kg*m/s] [kg*m/s] [kg*m/s] [kg*m/s] and after
collision
0.1563 0.0000 0.1563 0.0000 0.1560 0.1560
1 0.19%
kg*m/s kg*m/s kg*m/s kg*m/s kg*m/s kg*m/s
0.1962 0.0000 0.1962 -0.0267 0.2315 0.2048
2 4.38%
kg*m/s kg*m/s kg*m/s kg*m/s kg*m/s kg*m/s
0.1930 0.0000 0.1930 -0.0557 0.2519 0.1962
3 1.60%
kg*m/s kg*m/s kg*m/s kg*m/s kg*m/s kg*m/s
Lab 126: Conservation of Momentum and Impulse Theorem
Anurag Agarwal Group 6
10/29/21 11/05/21
Physics 111A-025 Ivan Oparin
Abhay Krishna, Zarrar Nawaz, Ghulam Ahmed
INTRODUCTION
In this 3-part lab, there was a glider on a frictionless air track which would collide with an object.
In the first part, there were 2 gliders with one at rest and the other glider would be pushed and
hit the glider at rest which would cause them both to go through photogates and would bounce
off each other with a total of 3 trials with different masses. In the second part, an ultrasonic
sensor was used, and it is the same as part 1 except the gliders stick together. In the third part,
there would only be one glider which would be pushed and hit a force sensor and would bounce
with a total of 3 experiments with different mass. In the first and second part what was being
examined was the momentum and kinetic energy before and after the collision. In the third part
what was being examined was the impulse of the glider. The objective of this lab was to verify
the conservation of momentum for fully elastic and totally inelastic collisions which is part 1 and
2, respectively. The other objective was to verify the impulse-momentum by comparing the
impulse and the change in momentum which is part 3. Theoretically in an elastic and inelastic
the collision the momentum is conserved so they should be the same before and after the
collision. In an elastic collision the kinetic energy is conserved while in an inelastic collision it is
not. Also, impulse is equal to 𝐽 = 𝑓 ∆𝑡 = ∫ 𝐹(𝑡)𝑑𝑡 = ∆𝑃 = 𝑃 − 𝑃 which is the
impulse-momentum theorem.
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
Equipment Used: Computer with Capstone software installed, Air track, Air supply with a hose,
Photogates (x2) with accessories including a photogate flag (also called a reflector), a bumper,
an inelastic collision needle, a wax receptacle, and glider masses (x4), Motion sensor, Force
Sensor, Electronic balance, and Vernier caliper on the counter.
, Variables:
1. Mass = 𝑀# – Mass of Gliders
2. Velocity = 𝑉# – Velocity Before Collision
3. Velocity = 𝑉# – Velocity After Collision
4. Momentum = 𝑃# – Momentum Before Collision
5. Momentum = 𝑃# – Momentum After Collision
6. Kinetic Energy = 𝐾𝐸# – Kinetic Energy Before Collision
7. Kinetic Energy = 𝐾𝐸# – Kinetic Energy After Collision
8. Impulse =J – Forceavg times change in time
9. Impulse = ∆P – Change in Momentum
10. Time = ∆t – Change in Time
RESULTS (Raw data)
Part 1
Table 1: Elastic Collision
Trial # M1 [kg] M2 [kg] V1 [m/s] V1’ [m/s] V2 [m/s] V2’ [m/s]
0.20619 0.7563 0.0000 0.0000 0.7562
1 0.2066 kg
kg m/s m/s m/s m/s
0.30648 0.9496 -0.1294 0.0000 0.7554
2 0.2066 kg
kg m/s m/s m/s m/s
0.40659 0.9340 -0.2694 0.0000 0.6196
3 0.2066 kg
kg m/s m/s m/s m/s
% Difference in
Trial P1 P2 Total P P1’ P2’ Total P’ total P before
# [kg*m/s] [kg*m/s] [kg*m/s] [kg*m/s] [kg*m/s] [kg*m/s] and after
collision
0.1563 0.0000 0.1563 0.0000 0.1560 0.1560
1 0.19%
kg*m/s kg*m/s kg*m/s kg*m/s kg*m/s kg*m/s
0.1962 0.0000 0.1962 -0.0267 0.2315 0.2048
2 4.38%
kg*m/s kg*m/s kg*m/s kg*m/s kg*m/s kg*m/s
0.1930 0.0000 0.1930 -0.0557 0.2519 0.1962
3 1.60%
kg*m/s kg*m/s kg*m/s kg*m/s kg*m/s kg*m/s
