Name _____________________________ Momentum Lab Date ________
Purpose: To qualitatively investigate the conservation of linear momentum in one dimensional collisions.
Equipment: 2 Pasco Carts 2 masses Pasco Linear Track
I. Read through the initial conditions for collision #1 as given in the table below. (Read the note below.) Draw a before picture
based on the initial conditions. Discuss with your partner what you think will happen immediately after the collision. Draw a
picture of your prediction below. Repeat for this process for all the situations given in the following tables.
II. Obtain the equipment listed above and perform each of the experiments below. Draw a picture of what you observe immediately
after the collision. Is what you observed the same as what you predicted? Could you explain to someone else why the system
behaved as it did? Discuss any differences and observations with your partner.
Note: - Be certain to level the track before you begin.
- When setting up the collisions, the first cart should always be on the left side and the second cart on the right side.
- Use short arrows to indicate small velocities and longer arrows to indicate larger velocities.
- To create an elastic collision, use the side of the cart that has the plunger and leave the plunger extended.
- To create an inelastic collision, use the sides of the cart that have Velcro so that they will stick together.
Initial conditions for the Predicted Observed
Before Picture
collision of two carts. After Picture After Picture
1 M1 = M2
v1 is small to the right
v2 = 0
Carts collide elastically
2 M1 = M2
v1 is small to the right
v2 = 0
Carts collide inelastically
3 M1 M2
v1 is small to the right
v2 = 0
Carts collide elastically
6 M1 > M2
v1 is small to the right
v2 = 0
Carts collide inelastically
7 M1 = M2
v1 is large to the right
v2 = 0
Carts collide elastically
8 M1 = M2
v1 is large to the right
v2 = 0
Carts collide inelastically
9 M1 M2
v1 is large to the right
v2 = 0
Carts collide elastically
12 M1 > M2
v1 is large to the right
v2 = 0
Carts collide inelastically
13 M1 = M2
v1 is small to the right
v2 is small to the left
v1 = v2
Carts collide elastically
14 M1 = M2
v1 is small to the right
v2 is small to the left
v1 = v2
Carts collide inelastically
15 M1 v2
Carts collide elastically
18 M1 v2
Carts collide inelastically
III. Repeat the experiment in part 18 with different values of v1. (Remember to keep v1 > v2.) Is it possible to obtain different results than
you did above? If yes, then draw the before and after pictures for each new result below.
IV. Create 3 new collisions and repeat the steps in part I and II. Include a description of the initial conditions for each collision in the table
below.
Initial conditions for the Predicted Observed
Before Picture
collision of two carts. After Picture After Picture
1
2
3