Lab: 3

Section #: 007
Group #: 9
Experiment #: 3
Date: 03/08/11

Conservation of Linear Momentum

Your signature indicates that you have completely read the entire report and agree with
everything here in. Failure to sign will result in a zero for your personal grade unless a formal
exception is filed with your TA.

Please Print and Sign Full Name

Principal investigator: _Ben Chesney_______________________________________

Skeptic: _Adam Horvath_______________________________________

Researcher _John Patterson_______________________________________

TA _Emre Guler_________________________________________

Lab Report Score:________________

Role I DC AD RC Q1 Q2 PI PG

Legend:
I introduction
DC data and calculation
AD analysis and discussion
RC results and conclusion
Q1/Q2 quiz/prelab
PI principal investigator points
PG personal grade (average of individual score and Lab Report Score)
Introduction
This lab means to explore the law of Conservation of Linear Momentum which states that
the linear momentum of a certain system has a constant direction and magnitude if the system is
not subject to any external force. This idea is more commonly stated as Newtons 2nd law of
motion. Conservation of momentum implies that the total momentum of the system measured
before the collision must equal the total momentum of the system after the collision. To prove
this law, we performed a simple experiment involving an inelastic collision between a ball with a
cart and track mechanism. The comparison of the momentum of the system before and after the
collision should show the measure of conservation of momentum.

Experimental Log

1. Decided experimental roles during the pre-lab procedure

1.1. Researcher: John Patterson
1.2. Skeptic: Adam Horvath
1.3. Principal Investigator: Ben Chesney

2. Equipment Check
2.1. Pasco Ballistic Pendulum (Pendulum removed) (SN: ME-6831-4)
2.2. TI-84 Silver Edition Calculator (SN: 2235018035 S-0106F)
2.3. Pasco Photogate Timer (SN: ME-9215A-14)
2.4. TI-CBR (Calculator Based Ranger[Sonic Motion Detector]) (SN: 5-030003366-1-
0897A)
2.5. Pasco 2 Meter Cart Track with cart and projectile catcher (SN: ME-9450-7)
2.6. Ohaus Triple Beam Balance (SN: Placeholder)
2.7. Carpenters Level
2.8. Ramrod
2.9. Steel ball (0.025m)

3. Set up Equipment and get approval to continue with Experiment

3.1. Cart track aligned on the lab table surface
3.1.1. Carpenters level run along the track in 10cm intervals both perpendicular and
parallel to the running surface to make sure it is perfectly level.
3.1.2. Adjusted the track accordingly
3.2. The Cart is placed per instruction 0.05m from the launcher
3.2.1. The Pasco Ballistic Pendulum (launcher) is leveled with the carpenters level
3.2.2. The launcher is aligned with the cart track and catching mechanism on top of
the cart
3.2.3. The photogate timer is aligned at the diameter of the balls position ready to
calculate the time it takes to pass through its beam.
3.2.4. Photogate tests are run in order to make sure that it is set up correctly.
3.2.5. Photogate error is calculated here by launching the ball ten times and finding
the average time, and calculating the standard deviation.
3.3. The ball is rammed into the Pasco Ballistic Pendulum on the High setting.
 3.3.1. The projectile is fired and the time is recorded in table 1 of the lab manual.
3.3.1.1. This process is repeated four more times.

4. The TI-CBR phase

4.1. The CBR is connected to the TI-84 Silver Edition Calculator in order to collect
graphing data.
4.2. The projectile catcher is reset
4.3. The launcher is set to the highest tension setting; waiting launch.
4.4. The Principle Investigator stands ready to initiate the CBR while the Researcher
prepares to pull the firing mechanism on the launcher.
4.4.1. A simple countdown ensures synchronization.
4.4.2. The Researcher does not move in order to not interfere with the CBR
collecting sonar information.
4.4.3. The CBR records the data.
4.4.4. The TI-84 calculator is then connected to the lab computer in order to upload
the graphical data plotted by the CBRs collection run.
4.4.5. The graph comparing velocity (y coordinate) versus time (x coordinate) is
observed
4.4.6. Data concerning the Beginning, Middle, and End were identified by using the
Trace method during the graphical view of the data.
4.4.7. These results were recorded in Table 2 of the lab manual.

5. Mass of the System Measured

5.1. The mass of the steel ball was measured by placing it directly in the center of the
Ohaus Triple Beam Balance.
5.2. The value was recorded in Table 3 of the lab manual.
5.3. This process is repeated twice more for the cart and the ball catcher.

6. Momentum of the System

6.1. Momentum of the system before collision was calculated and recorded in Table 4
of the lab manual.
6.2. Momentum of the system after collision was calculated and recorded in Table 4
of the lab manual.
6.3. Percent difference was calculated to compare the momentum before and after
collision and was recorded in Table 4 of the lab manual.

Post lab meetings

1. First meeting: Sunday March 06, 2011.

1.1. Members in attendance include Researcher John Patterson, Skeptic Adam
Horvath, and Principle Investigator Ben Chesney.
1.2. We compared our raw data sheets to clear up any mistakes made in the
coping process.
 1.3. We discussed our roles in more detail; what we needed to do and when we
needed to have it done.
1.4. We then proceeded to work on our individual parts.

2. Second meeting Placeholder

3. Third meeting Placeholder

References

Appendices Placeholder (still choosing appendices)

Steve Ellis website Placeholder

Lab Manual Placeholder

Possible previous labs Placeholder

Any other possible references placeholder

Data and Calculation

In Table 1, the objective was to calculate the mean velocity. Before this value could be
determined however, we had to calculate the velocity of each test by using the given ball
dimensions (double checked by micrometer measurement) of 25mm, or 0.025m and the time
measured by the photogate timer.

Using these variables, we calculate the velocity of each test by using Eqn. 1 below.

Eqn. 1:

d ball
V 0=
t
Example:

0.025 m
V 0= =5.319148 m/ s
0.0047 s

After calculating each individual velocity, the mean velocity can be calculated by taking a simple average
of all of the previous velocities using Eqn. 2 defined below.

Eqn. 2:

V 1+V 2+ V 3+V 4 +V 5
V mean=
5
Example:

5.319148+5.319148+5.434785+5.434785+5.434785 m
V mean= =5.388529
5 s

Table 1
Initial Velocity of the System
Ball Diameter (m) = 0.025
Trial Time (s) Velocity (m/s)
1 0.0047 5.319148
2 0.0047 5.319148
3 0.0046 5.434785
4 0.0046 5.434785
5 0.0046 4.434785
Mean Velocity (m/s) = 5.388529

Table 2 measurements were found solely on the data collected and logged by the CBR (calculator
based ranger). The beginning region was estimated as a starting position by using the TRACE
method while viewing the graph on the calculator. The middle and end regions were estimated
the same way, except for being in the middle and at the end of the graph line respectively. The x
coordinate was used as the variable for time and the y coordinate as velocity.

(Placeholder for EXCEL RANGER graph)

Table 2
Final Velocity of the System
Data Region Sampled Time (s) Velocity (m/s)
Beginning 0.86016 0.52483
Middle 1.72032 0.38690
End 2.52672 0.35115

The values measured and recorded in Table 3 come directly from the mass calculated by placing
the physical objects on the Ohaus Triple Beam Balance. The balance originally gives a result in
grams, but in order to conform to the SI standard of kilograms, the values measured were divided
by 1000 to convert the units.

Table 3
System Mass Measurements
 Steel Ball 0.0666 kg
Cart 0.4896 kg
Ball Catcher 0.1603 kg

In Table 4, the system momentum before collision is calculated by using the mass of the ball and
the mean velocity to form Eqn. 3 as defined below.

Eqn. 3:

Pbefore =( M ballV mean )

Example:
m kgm
(
Pbefore = 0.0666 kg5.388529
s )
=0.3588760
s

Similarly, the system momentum after collision is calculated by summing up the entire mass of
the system found in Table 3 and multiplying the respective beginning/middle/end velocities
noted in Table 2. This is summarized in Eqn. 4 defined below.

Eqn. 4: (note that V begin is interchanged with V middle and V end respectively)

Pafter =( m )V be gin

Pafter =( M ball + M cart + M catcher )V begin

Example:

m kgm
Pafter =( 0.0666 kg +0.4896 kg+ 0.1603 kg )0.52483 =0.37605
s s

Percent difference was also found using Eqn. 5 defined below.

Eqn. 5:

Percent Difference= | Pbefore |

Pbefore P after
100

Example:
 |0.358880.37605
0.35888 |100
|0.01717
0.35888 |
100=4.7843

Table 4
Comparative Momentum Calculation
System Momentum Final Velocity Data System Momentum % Difference
Before Collision Sample Region After Collision
kgm Beginning kgm 4.7843 %
0.35888 0.37605
s s
kgm Middle kgm 22.754 %
0.35888 0.27722
s s
kgm End kgm 29.890 %
0.35888 0.25161
s s

The uncertainty in the diameter of the ball refers to the time when the ball crossed the LED of
the photo gate, this could be caused by the ball being off center. To propagate this error we estimated
how much we thought it could have been off center of the LED and we found that value to be 3cm or
0.003m. Using the Pythagorean Theorem:
2 2 2
(r ') =r +
 (r ')2=r 2 + 2

Using the aforementioned method we found:

r ' =.01213 m

This is just the uncertainty in the radius to find the uncertainty in the diameter we multiplied r ' by a
factor of 2 and found the uncertainty in the diameter ( d ball ) to be:

d ball=.02426 m

Discussion and Analysis

The uncertainty in distance is the difference between the diameter of the steel ball and the diameter as
the steel ball passes through the beam of the photogate d 1 and the diameter of the beam d 2 .

Assume that D is the diameter of the steel ball, and d is the diameter when the photogate beam
intersects with the steel ball, and h is an estimation of the height between d and D.
2 2
d D
()2
+h2=
2 ( )
d=
( ( D 2 2
2) )
h 2
2

d=
( ( 25 mm 2 2
2 ) )
3 22

d=24.2693222 mm

d 1=Dd

d 1=25 mm24.2693222mm

d 1=0.730677801 mm

We measured the diameter of the photogate beam ( d 2 ) to be 8mm

 d 2=8 mm

d = ( d 1+ d2 )

d = ( 0.730677801 mm+8 mm )

d= 8.730677801 mm

Time

To calculate t we used the following equation

n
1 2
t= ( t i t )
n1 i=1

10
1 2
t= ( t i 0.00479 s )
101 i=1

t=0.0000316227766 s

The uncertainty in the velocity ( v ) is calculated by the following equation.

d v d v 1
v= = 2 =
t t t d t

(
2 2
v v
v=
t
t + ) (
d
d )
So we calculated the Initial Velocity ( v i ).

(
2 2
1
v i =
0.0242693222m
( 0.0048 s ) 2
0.0000316227766 s +
)(
0.0048 s
0.008730677801m )
v=1.819196193 m/s

(
2 2
1
v i =
0.0242693222m
( 0.0047 s ) 2
0.0000316227766 s +
0.0047 s )(
0.008730677801m )
v i=1.857915889 m/s

Average with 10 trials 1.823068163 m/s

The uncertainty in the final velocity ( v f ) takes into account of the d and t .

Distance

d =0.11.5 m

d=0.015 m

d=vt

Final Velocity of the System

Time Velocity Distance
Data region Sampled (s) (m/s) (m)
Beginning 0.5376 0.36263 0.194949888
Middle 1.55904 0.30518 0.475787827
End 2.09664 0.24516 0.514012262

Time

Time seconds
t=
CBR Pulses

5s
t=
94

t= 0.53 s

We used the formula for v (above) and calculated the uncertainty in the final velocity ( v f ) .

d v d v 1
v= = 2 =
t t t d t

(
2 2
0.194949888 m 1
v f =
( 0.5376 s ) 2
0.53 s +
)(
0.5376 s
0.015 m )
v=0.3585906951 m/ s

(
2 2
0.475787827 m 1
v f =
( 1.55904 s ) 2
0.53 s +
)(
1.55904 s
0.015 m )
v=0.1041919697 m/s
 (
2 2
0.514012262 m 1
v f =
( 2.09664 s ) 2
0.53 s
)(
+
2.09664 s
0.015 m )
v f =0.0623844595m/ s

Point on Graph v ( m/s )

Beginning 0.3585906951
Middle 0.1041919697
End 0.0623844595
Average 0.1750557081

The error in Momentum (P) is calculated by using the following equation.

md p d p m p md
P=mv= = = = 2
t m t d t t t

(
2 2
P P
P=
v ) (
v +
m
m )
The error in the Initial Momentum ( P ) is calculated using the following equation.

P P
m= =0.0653 kg v = =5.21941489 m/s m=0.00005 kg
v m

v=1.857915889 m/s

P= ( 0.0653 kg1.857915889 m/s ) + ( 5.21941489 m/ s0.00005 kg )

2 2

kgm
P=0.1213221882
s

gm
P=121.3221882
s

Final Momentum

m= total mass of ball, cart, and catcher

P P
m= =0.7168 kg =v m=0.00005 kg v=0.015 m/s
v m

(
2 2
P P
P=
v ) (
v +
m
m )
 P= ( 0.7168 kg0.015 m/s ) + ( 0.36263 m/s0.00005 kg )
2 2

P=0.0107520153 kgm/s

P= ( 0.7168 kg0.015 m/s ) + ( 0.30518 m/s0.00005 kg )

2 2

P=0.0107520108 kgm/s

P= ( 0.7168 kg0.015 m/s ) + ( 0.24516 m/s0.00005 kg )

2 2

P=0.010752007 kgm/ s
Table 1

Point on Graph P(kg*ms)

0.010752015
Beginning 3
0.010752010
Middle 8
0.010.75200
End 7

Table 2

Point on Momentum with Error

Graph (kg*ms)
Beginning
P1 0.259933184 0.0107520153
Middle P2 0.218753024 0.0107520108
End P3 0.175730688 0.010752007

Results and Conclusion

The purpose of this lab was to calculate the momentum of the cart in an elastic collision. We
launched a steel ball into the ball catcher at about 5 m/s on an almost frictionless surface. Then, using
the photogate timer, the CBR, and our TI-83 calculator, we graphed a velocity vs. time graph to
determine the distance travelled.

While the data collected by the CBR and the TI-83 was accurate and precise, human and
equipment error never allowed for a perfect trial to be performed. Each time we launched the
ball, the back wheels of the cart would pop out of its grooves and grind along the track. That was
caused by our launch angle not being exactly 180 degrees. The experiments manual told us to
assume that the track is frictionless; however, with this observation and the data, we can see that
friction affected our experiment, whether or not we were supposed to take it into account in our
data collection.

<< After inserting graphs, insert paragraph here explaining the paragraph above with
statistical evidence>>

<<Also!! After inserting graphs, insert paragraph here evaluating and discussing the data
and why it is the way it is >>

<< Insert Initial ( P ) and Beginning Momentum (

0 P1 )
with Error Uncertainty (in kgm/s) Graph >>

<< Insert Initial ( P ) and Middle Momentum (

0 P2 ) with
Error Uncertainty (in kgm/s) Graph >>

<< Insert Initial ( P ) and End Momentum ( P ) with

0 3

Error Uncertainty (in kgm/s) Graph >>