LabQuest

19

Impulse and Momentum

The impulse-momentum theorem relates impulse, the average force applied to an object times the length of
time the force is applied, and the change in momentum of the object:
F t mv f mvi

Here we will only consider motion and forces along a single line. The average force, F , is the net force on
the object, but in the case where one force dominates all others it is sufficient to use only the large force in
calculations and analysis.
For this experiment, a dynamics cart will roll along a level track. Its momentum will change as it reaches
the end of an initially slack elastic tether cord, much like a horizontal bungee jump. The tether will stretch
and apply an increasing force until the cart stops. The cart then changes direction and the tether will soon
go slack. The force applied by the cord is measured by a Force Sensor. The cart velocity throughout the
motion is measured with a Motion Detector. Using LabQuest to find the average force during a time
interval, you can test the impulse-momentum theorem.

M o t io n D e t e c to r
F o rc e S e n s o r

E la s t ic c o r d

Figure 1
OBJECTIVES
Measure a carts momentum change and compare to the impulse it receives.
Compare average and peak forces in impulses.

MATERIALS
LabQuest
LabQuest App
Motion Detector
Vernier Force Sensor
dynamics cart and track

clamp
elastic cord
string

PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS
1. In a car collision, the drivers body must change speed from a high value to zero. This is true whether
or not an airbag is used, so why use an airbag? How does it reduce injuries?

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2. You want to close an open door by throwing either a 400 g lump of clay or a 400 g rubber ball toward
it. You can throw either object with the same speed, but they are different in that the rubber ball
bounces off the door while the clay just sticks to the door. Which projectile will apply the larger
impulse to the door and be more likely to close it?
PROCEDURE
1. Measure the mass of your dynamics cart and record the value in the data table.
2. Place the track on a level surface. Confirm that the track is level by placing the low-friction cart on the
track and releasing it from rest. It should not roll. If necessary, adjust the track.
3. Attach the elastic cord to the cart and then the cord to the string. Tie the string to the Force Sensor a
short distance away. Choose a string length so that the cart can roll freely with the cord slack for most
of the track length, but be stopped by the cord before it reaches the end of the track. Clamp the Force
Sensor so that the string and cord, when taut, are horizontal and in line with the carts motion.
4. Place the Motion Detector beyond the other end of the track so that the detector has a clear view of the
carts motion along the entire track length.
5. Set the range switch on the Force Sensor to 10 N. Connect the Force Sensor to
LabQuest. If your Motion Detector has a switch, set it to Track. Connect the
Motion Detector to DIG 1 of LabQuest. Choose New from the File menu. If you
have older sensors that do not auto-ID, manually set them up.
6. Zero the Force Sensor.
a. Remove all force from the Force Sensor.
b. Wait for the force readings to stabilize, and then choose Zero Force from the Sensors menu.
When the process is complete, the readings for the sensor should be close to zero.
7. On the Meter screen, tap Rate. Change the data-collection rate to 50 samples/second and the datacollection length to 3 seconds. Select OK.
8. Practice releasing the cart so it rolls toward the Motion Detector, bounces gently, and returns to your
hand. The Force Sensor must not shift and the cart must stay on the track. Arrange the cord and string
so that when they are slack they do not interfere with the cart motion. You may need to guide the string
by hand, but be sure that you do not apply any force to the cart or Force Sensor. Keep your hands
away from between the cart and the Motion Detector.
9. Start data collection, then roll the cart as you practiced in the previous step.

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Impulse and Momentum

10. Study your graphs to determine if the run was useful.
a. Inspect the force data. If the peak is flattened, then the applied force is too large. Repeat data
collection with a lower initial speed.
b. Confirm that the Motion Detector detected the cart throughout its travel. If there is a noisy or flat
spot near the time of closest approach, then the Motion Detector was too close to the cart. Move the
Motion Detector away from the cart, and repeat your data collection.
c. To repeat data collection, return to Step 9.
11. Once you have made a run with good position and force graphs, analyze your data. To test the impulsemomentum theorem, you need the velocity before and after the impulse. To find these values, work with
the graph of velocity vs. time.
a. Change the y-axis of the position graph to Velocity.
b. Tap and drag your stylus across the approximately constant- and negative-velocity region before the
impulse.
c. Choose Statistics Velocity from the Analyze menu. Read the average velocity before the collision
(vi) and record the value in the data table.
d. Choose Statistics Velocity from the Analyze menu to turn off statistics.
e. Repeat parts ac of this step to determine the average velocity just after the bounce (vf) and record
this positive value in the data table.
12. (Calculus version) Now select a portion of the force graph for integration.
a. Tap and drag across the region that represents the impulse (begin at the point where the force
becomes non-zero).
b. Choose Integral Force from the Analyze menu.
c. Calculus tells us that the expression for the impulse is equivalent to the integral of the force vs. time
graph, or
t final

F t

F (t )dt

tinitial

Read the value of the integral of the force data, the impulse value, and record the value in the data
table.
13. Perform a second trial by repeating Steps 912, and record the information in the data table.
14. Change the elastic material attached to the cart. Be sure to include a description of the differences of
the elastic materials in your lab notebook.
15. Repeat Steps 913, recording the information in the data table. If possible, try to generate
approximately the same initial velocity as in the previous section

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DATA TABLE
Mass of cart

Trial

0.514 kg

Description of Elastic 1

Elastic cord

Description of Elastic 2

Thicker and stronger elastic cord

Final
Velocity
vf

Initial
Velocity
vi

Change of
Velocity
v

Impulse

Duration
of Impulse
t

Average
Force

Elastic 1

(m/s)

(m/s)

(m/s)

0.65

-0.80

0.7

1
2

Fmax

(Ns)

(s)

(N)

1.45

0.7453

0.709

1.651

-0.88

1.58

0.855

0.621

1.574

0.87

-0.94

1.81

0.979

0.323

4.137

-1.03

1.08

2.11

1.142

0.350

(from
graph)
(N)

Elastic 2
2.096

3.801

In the following data table, the 2nd column, Impulse is calculated by using the software LabQuest, and
finding the integral of the Force graph, which should give us the value of Impulse. The 3rd column,
Change in momentum is calculated by inputting our measured values of mass, initial velocity, and final
velocity into the equation: change in momentum = (change in velocity) x mass. The 4th and last column
finds the percent difference between the 2nd and 3rd columns values.
Trial

Impulse

Change in
momentum

Elastic 1

(Ns)

(kgm /s) or (Ns)

0.7545

0.7453

% difference between Impulse

and Change in momentum
(0.7545-0.7453) / ( (0.7545 +
0.7453) / 2 ) x 100% =
1.227%

0.855

0.979

13.52%

0.979

0.871

13.41%

1.142

0.979

15.37%

Elastic 2

3. The impulse momentum theorem is supported by the experiment data. The differences between our
impulse calculated by inputting measurements of mass, initial velocity, and final velocity into the
equation mass x change in velocity and our impulse calculated by integrating the force graph is caused
by forces that we did not account for in our calculations, like friction. Therefore, our data does support
the impulse-momentum theorem.
4. Average Force is 2.096 N. The peak value of the last graph is 3.801 N, and therefore is much larger
than the average force. Impulse is average force multiplied by duration applied by force. Therefore, by

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Impulse and Momentum

increasing the time the force is applied, we can decrease the magnitude of the force itself while making
the same impulse.
5. Both preliminary questions were correct. Airbags increase the duration of time, therefore causing a
decrease in the force applied. If we threw a wad of clay and a rubber ball at the same initial velocity at
a door, the clay would stick to the door, and therefore have a final velocity of 0, while the rubber ball
would bounce off the door, resulting in a reversal in direction of velocity, and therefore a much larger
change in velocity. Thus, the rubber ball creates a much larger impulse.
6. The shape of all 4 graphs are all parabolas. Elastic 2 graphs are thinner and taller, while Elastic 1
graphs are wider and shorter. We can conclude that regardless of the type of material used for the
elastic cord, the graph is always parabolic.
Elastic 1, Run 1:
7. Elastic 2 had a much higher maximum force for both trials, than both trials of Elastic 1. Elastic 2 also
had an time duration longer than Elastic 1 graphs. Therefore, a stiffer elastic material results in quicker
durations and higher max force. Its important that the starting velocities be similar, or else we could
not be sure if what the differences between the two different elastic materials are caused by. In other
words, its important that initial velocity remain a control variable. By keeping the initial velocities of
both elastic materials similar, we can properly compare the graphs and see the relationship between
them. For example, if the thinner elastic cord had a much higher initial velocity, @@@@@ Its
important that the starting velocities be similar, so as to have similar impulses. With similar impulses,
we can compare the graphs without further calculation.
ANALYSIS
1. Calculate the change in velocities and record in the data table. From the mass of the cart and change in
velocity, determine the change in momentum as a result of the impulse. Make this calculation for
each trial and enter the values in the second data table.
2. If you used the average force (non-calculus) method, determine the impulse for each trial from the
average force and time interval values. Record these values in the data table.
3. If the impulse-momentum theorem is correct, the change in momentum will equal the impulse for each
trial. Experimental measurement errors, along with friction and shifting of the track or Force Sensor,
will keep the two from being exactly the same. One way to compare the two is to find their percentage
difference. Divide the difference between the two values by the average of the two, and then multiply by
100%. How close are your values, percentage-wise? Do your data support the impulse-momentum
theorem?
4. Look at the shape of the last force vs. time graph. Is the peak value of the force significantly different
from the average force? Is there a way you could deliver the same impulse with a much smaller force?
5. Revisit your answers to the Preliminary Questions in light of your work with the impulse-momentum
theorem.
6. When you use different elastic materials, what changes occurred in the shapes of the graphs? Is there a
correlation between the type of material and the shape? Include graphs from both bands in your
report.
7. When you used a stiffer or tighter elastic material, what effect did this have on the duration of the
impulse? What affect did this have on the maximum size of the force? Can you develop a general rule
from these observations? When comparing graphs from the two different bands, why is it important
that the starting velocities be similar? If the thinner band had a much larger initial velocity than the
thicker band, why would it be difficult to compare the results?

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