INTRODUCTION

When watching a sport match, it is common to hear the announcers narrated

that a sport team has or gain the momentum. In term of sport, gaining
momentum is to be in a position which is hard for competitors to catch up the
scores. However, in term of physics, momentum(p) is the vector quantity of
moving objects, also defining by the object’s mass(m) times its velocity(v).
Therefore, momentum is directly proportional to mass and velocity. (the Physics
Classroom, n.d.) Consequently, an object does change in momentum, and
according to Impulse-momentum theorem, such change in momentum is called
impulse. In other words, impulse is the effect of net force acting on an object
over time, or the product of force and a time interval. (Khan Academy, 2018)
Apart from that, the law of conservation of momentum states that the object of
any closed, isolated system is conserved. In a closed system, there is no gain or
loss in mass, while an isolated system is when the net external force on a closed
system is zero. Therefore, in case of two colliding objects, it can be concluded
that the total momentum before collision is equal to that after collision. To be
more precise, the momentum lost by object A is gained by object B. (Elert,
2018) In fact, the law of conservation of momentum can be derived from
Newton’s third law which states that the forces exerted by two colliding objects
upon each other are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction.

Obviously, the amount of time that two objects collide is the same. Then,
since the product of force and time interval is impulse, the two object’s impulses
-change in momentum- are also equal in magnitude and opposite in direction.
Lastly, there are 2 major types of collision: elastic and inelastic collision. For
elastic collision, after colliding, the two objects move separately, whilst for
inelastic collision, the two objects become attached and move together. (Nipun,
2015)

In this experiment, we will demonstrate the Law of Conservation of

Momentum by comparing the momentum(s) of two Vernier carts before and
after the collision on the low friction Vernier track in order to prove whether the
momentum is conserved or not. The experiment will be performed for both
elastic and inelastic collision

OBJECTIVE

1. To demonstrate the Law of Conservation of Momentum

SET UP

MATERIALS

1 low friction Vernier Track

2 Vernier carts

Mass scale

2 Stop watches
 tape

PROCEDURE

1. Label the cart number and weight each cart using the mass scale.

2. Put cart2 20 cm apart from the end of the track and put cart1 20 cm apart from
cart2 as in the picture.

3. Each cart has magnetic side and velcro side, make sure that you put the sticky
side facing each other for the inelastic collision.

4. Lightly push cart1 toward cart2, and start the timer as you push the cart.

5. When cart1 collide with cart2, stop the first timer and start the second timer.

6. Stop your second timer as the carts reach the end.

7. Record your data.

8. Repeat step 2-7 for 3 times.

9. For the elastic collision set up the cart as said in step 2 but put the magnetic
side facing each other.

10. Lightly push cart1 toward cart2, and start the timer as you push the cart.

11. When cart1 hit cart2, stop the first timer and start the second timer.

12. Stop your second timer as the carts reach the end.

13. Record your data.

14. Repeat step 9-13 for 3 times.

15. Calculate the velocity using V = d/t

16. Calculate the momentum before and after collision using these formula:
 M1V1 + M2V2 = M1V1 + M2V2 and M1V1 + M2V2 = (M1 + M2) V

Data tables

Distance: 0.2m

Mass cart 1: 0.52 kg

Mass cart 2: 0.51 kg

V=d/t

M1V1 + M2V2 = (M1 + M2)Vf

M1V1 + M2V2 = M1V1 + M2V2

Inelastic collision

Time(s) Velocity Momentum

(m/s) (kg*m/s)
1st trial 2nd trial 3rd trial Average

Before collision 1.85 1.12 0.61 1.19 0.17 0.09

After collision 5.18 2.97 1.09 3.08 0.07 0.07

Percentage difference: 25%

Elastic collision

Time(s) Velocity Momentum

(m/s) (kg*m/s)
1st trial 2nd trial 3rd trial Average

Before collision 0.70 0.83 1.55 1.03 0.19 0.10

After collision 0.81 0.67 1.63 1.10 0.18 0.09

Percentage difference: 11%

DATA ANALYSIS

According to the data for inelastic collision, the first cart moved twice
faster than 2 carts moving together. This is because the mass of first cart is half
of both of them combined together. The formula P=mv and the law of
conservation of momentum (Pi=Pf) support the experiment result. The
momentum of the cart before the collision has to be equal so if the initial
momentum has less mass, it need to have more velocity so that when mass
multiply by velocity it will be equal to the final momentum.

For elastic collision, the result shows that the momentum before and after the
collision are similar. This is because the carts have similar mass, thus referring
to the law of conservation of momentum, both carts should have similar
velocity.

CONCLUSION

Overall, the experiment is success in showing that the formula P=mv and
the law of conservation of momentum (Pi=Pf) support the experiment result.
Furthermore, the elastic collision is supported to the law of conservation of
momentum which have a same velocity.

RECOMMENDATIONS

- The length between two of the cart is too short, so next time we can do
more length to make it more accurate. Example 20cm, 40cm, 60cm
- if we use our hand to move the cart, then there will be external force
involved in the system, so we should push only

WORK LOGS

Date Jellybean Pound Noon

12/11/18 Place the carts in Time the 2nd carts after Time the 1st cart
the correct collision until it before collision and
positions and exert reaches 20cm take note of the
a force to the cart results

16/11/18 Calculate the average time, the average velocity, the momentum
before and after collision and their percent differences.

17/11/18 Material, Set-up, conclusion, Introduction,

procedure, data recommendation, objective, work log,
tables and data decoration reference
analysis
REFERENCES

Elert, G. (2018). Conservation of Momentum. Retrieved from The Physics

Hypertextbook: https://physics.info/momentum-
conservation/summary.shtml

Khan Academy. (2018). What are momentum and impulse? Retrieved from
khanacademy: https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/linear-
momentum/momentum-tutorial/a/what-are-momentum-and-impulse

Nipun. (2015, September 1). Difference Between Elastic and Inelastic Collision.
Retrieved from pediaa: http://pediaa.com/difference-between-elastic-
and-inelastic-collision/

the Physics Classroom. (n.d.). Momentum. Retrieved from physicsclassroom:

https://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/momentum/u4l1a.cfm

the Physics Classroom. (n.d.). Momentum Conservation Principle. Retrieved

from physicsclassroom:
https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/momentum/Lesson-
2/Momentum-Conservation-Principle