Lab Report

Conservation
of Momentum
Kongpop Moon-Ut
Supanut Sriburachai
Ongsa Chantayasakorn
Petepat Harnpraween
Introduction
In this lab report, we will be discussing about
momentum. Basically, momentum is a product
of the mass and velocity of an object. It is a
vector quantity, possessing a magnitude and a
direction. There can be two kinds of momentum
which is linear and rotational momentum.
Furthermore, a change in momentum was
considered as Impulse which represents by the
sign F delta t. Turning to the rotational
momentum, it changes the equation using
force of rotational motion instead of normal
linear force such as velocity and mass
changing to angular velocity and moment of
inertia.

During the experiment, we will be using 2

vernier cart and vernier track facing them and
move in the same direction in order to collide
them in both inelastic and elastic collision and
find momentum.
Objective

In the momentum lab, we will be

conducting an experiment to study the
forces involved in the motion of a Vernier
cart moving in a low friction Vernier Track in
order to demonstrate the Law of
Conservation of Momentum. Furthermore,
we will be using the following equation to
calculate the momentum and impulse:

● P=mv
● F t = Pf-Pi
Material

1.Low friction Vernier Track

2.Vernier cart

3.Mass Scale

4.Stop Watch
Set-Up
Data and Calculation:
Mass of vernier 1 and 2 are 513.74 and 510.24 respectively.
Each checkpoint have the same distance of 20 cm.
Inelastic Collision Elastic Collision

Initial velocity of cart 1 0 cm/s 0 cm/s

Initial velocity of cart 2 57.14 cm/s 50.5 cm/s

Final velocity 31.25 cm/s 64.52 cm/s

% difference -7.56% -8.54%

Inelastic Data

Time Before collision Time After collision

Round 1 0.38 sec. 0.64 sec.

Round 2 0.34 sec. 0.63 sec.

Round 3 0.32 sec. 0.54 sec.

Average of three rounds 0.35 sec. 0.64 sec.

Elastic Data

Time Before collision Time After collision

Round 1 0.34 sec. 0.32 sec.

Round 2 0.36 sec. 0.31sec.

Round 3 0.43 sec. 0.31 sec.

Average of three rounds 0.34 sec. 0.31 sec.

Inelastic calculation
Time
Formula Calculation

Average time before (R1+R2+R3)3 (0.38+0.34+0.32)/3 = 0.35

collision sec.

Average time after collision (R1+R2+R3)3 (0.64+0.63+0.64)/3 = 0.64

sec.

Velocity
Formula Calculation

Velocity before collision Δd/Δt 20 cm/0.35s = 57.14 cm/s

Velocity after collision Δd/Δt 20 cm/0.64s = 31.25 cm/s

Momentum
Formula Calculation

Momentum before collision P = M1V1 + (510.11 g*0 m/s) + (513.70 g*57.80 m/s)
M2V2 = 29,691.86 g*m/s

Momentum after collision P = M1V1f + (510.11 g + 513.70 g) 31.25 m/s =

M2V2f 31,994.06 g*m/s

% difference
Formula Calculation

2(Momentum of before - Momentum of 2(29,691.86 - 31,994.06) x

after) x 100/(Momentum of before + 100/(29,691.86 + 31,994.06) =
Momentum of after) -7.56%
Elastic calculation
Time
Formula Calculation

Average time before (R1+R2+R3)3 (0.32+0.38+0.31)/3 =0.34

collision sec.

Average time after collision (R1+R2+R3)3 (0.29+0.31+0.31)/3 = 0.31

sec.

Velocity
Formula Calculation

Velocity before collision Δd/Δt 20 cm/0.34s = 58.82 cm/s

Velocity after collision Δd/Δt 20 cm/0.31s = 64.52 cm/s

Momentum
Formula Calculation

Momentum before collision P = M1V1 + (510.11 g*0 cm/s) + (513.70 g*52.82

M2V2 cm/s) = 30,215.83 g*m/s

Momentum after collision P = M1V1f + (510.11 g*64.52 cm/s) + (513.70 g*0

M2V2f cm/s) = 32,912.30 g*m/s

% difference
Formula Calculation

2(Momentum of before - Momentum of 2(30,215.83- 32,912.30 ) x

after) x 100/(Momentum of before + 100/(30,215.83 + 32,912.30) =-8.54%
Momentum of after)
Analysis of Results:
Base on data and result, It can be seen that
the initial velocity of cart one for both
inelastic collision and elastic collision were 0.
However, after we measured the initial
velocity of cart two, we notice that the
inelastic collision was 64.5 cm/s whereas the
elastic collision was 50.5cm/s. According to
inelastic data, it shows that there are slightly
difference between time before and after
the collision. The average time before
collision is 0.31sec while the time average
after the collision is 0.62 sec. As a result, the
time before collision and after collision for the
elastic data is almost the same.
Recommendation
In this topic, we did not have enough time
in completing the experiment. We also think
that the work is lack of exactness and
accuracy. This is because we push the car
using our hands, which the force we exert
are different every time. If we were to do it
again, we would increase the number of
trials on each variable on the experiment to
increase the precision of the data.
Conclusion:

Based on the result on the experiment, we

concluded that some of the momentum
are lost during the collision. Most of the
momentum between the cars are
conserved. This is because the experiment
did not take place in an isolated and
closed system.
Work-log
Date Name Roles

2/17/2020 Supanut Timer

Petepat Recorder

Kongpop Pusher

Ongsa Timer

2/19/2020 Supanut Recommendation

Conclusion
Work-log

Petepat Set-up
Objective
Analysis

Kongpop Data& Calculation

Material
Procedure

Ongsa Introductions
References
Decoration
 Reference
https://momentumdash.com

https://www.merriam-webster.com/diction
ary/momentum

https://youtu.be/1WIECGg71WY