Lab Report:

Momentum and energy in Collisions:

By:
Partner:
Date:

Abstract:
In this experiment, two gliders of different masses were placed on air track,
and they both were made to collide. The initial and final velocity was
calculated and through which the kinetic energy was calculated before the
collision of the gliders and after the collision. We placed the different
materials like Velcro, spring, rubber and clay on red glider, to check the
damping of velocity, kinetic energy and the momentum after the collision.
Motion sensors were placed just above the track so that all the motion occurs
in front of sensors. The graphs of position velocity, momentum and
acceleration were recorded. The goals of the experiment were to find the
limitations for the conservation of momentum and Kinetic energy and to
work as a team. The results showed that conservation of kinetic energy was
very nearly applicable in mass spring collision.
Introduction:
Momentum is the product of mass of the body times its velocity. So when a
body of some mass is on move, it possesses a momentum. When a body has
some momentum, it is very difficult to stop or change its direction until a
force should not be applied in the opposite direction for some time interval.
Force and time product is called impulse. 1 This impulse is very necessary to
change the momentum, or change its direction. The purpose of this lab was
to define the limits of the momentum-impulse theorem. The conservation of
energy principal was understood, and limitations and conditions were
understood in which the conservation of energy and momentum can occur.
The formulas that will be used in this lab are

Physics:
K.E =

1
m v2
2

Where m = mass of the body

v = velocity of the body
Momentum = m*v (where m and v are the same as mentioned above)
Experimental Description:
Planning:
In planning section we identified different parameters that can affect the
conservation of energy and momentum. It was assumed that by changing
the contact points of two gliders and by changing the velocities of the
gliders, conservation of momentum and energy can be seen. From the
instruction given before the lab, it was assumed that conservation of
momentum can be achieved by reducing the friction and gravity. The
conservation of kinetic energy can be achieved if the deformation of the
body can be minimized, also heat and noise should be reduced which in our
case can be done by spring contacts, and some other contact materials. So if
there is friction, the momentum will not conserve. Also if it is deformation
produce in the glider during the collision, K.E will not conserve.
Experimental Description:
In this section, the two gliders of different masses were collided firstly on trial
basis, and after that with different contacts and different velocities. The
momentum in and energy in different configurations is shown in Data and
Analysis section.

Data and Analysis:

Firstly the two carts were collided without any contacts and their energy and
momentum graph is shown below.

Graph 1: Energy vs. Time for Trial

Graph 2: Momentum vs. Time for Trial

Both of the carts will utilize the same coordinates, so in calibrating the
coordinate system are kept same. To find a valid conclusion, there should be
atleast three trials made.
Table 1: Shows the Data collected when velcro was connected to
both of the masses
Num
ber
of
trials
1

Ave Total
Momentum(N
s)

Ave Total
Kinetic
Energy(J)

Se
Momentum
(Ns)

Se Kinetic
Energy(J)

0.267451

0.035598

0.001595

0.000477

-0.21305

0.022494

0.000456

0.000156

0.393178

0.077139

0.001582

0.000824

-0.29663

0.044029

0.002168

0.00147

0.361743

0.065226

0.001371

0.000661

-0.26599

0.035249

0.000383

0.000213

Commen
t

before
Collision
after
Collision
before
Collision
after
Collision
before
Collision
after
Collision

After adding the three momentums we got the valuse as below:

Pi = Pf (for conservation of momentum)
Pi Pf = 0
M1 = 0.267451+0.21305 = 0.480501Ns
The error in M1can be calculated by simply adding their errors:
M 1 =0.001595+0.000456 = 0.002051
By similar error calculation:
M2 = 0.393178 +0.29663 = 0.689808
M3 = 0.361743+0.26599 =

0.00375 Ns

0.6277 0.001754 Ns

After adding the three K.E we got the valuse as below:

K.E(before collision) K.E( after collision) = 0 (for conservation of energy)
K.E(initial-final) = 0.035598-0.022494=0.013006

0.0006333J

K.E2(initial-final) = 0.077139-0.044029=0.033101 0.002294J

K.E3(initial-final) = 0.065226-0.035249=0.029977 0.000874J
Table 2.1: Shows the Data collected when spring was connected to
both of the masses
Mome
ntum
(Ns)

Kinet
ic
Ener
gy (J)

Mome
ntum
Error
(Ns)

Kinet
ic
Ener
gy
Error

Comment

0.0494
06
0.0961
44
0.0637
1
0.0499
5
0.0644
9
0.0579
2

0.276
583
0.111
059
0.124
859

0.0061
91
0.0007
2
0.0007
39

(J)
0.049
751
0.001
078
0.001
033

0.170
891

0.0005
59

0.001
048

after
collision

0.109
4

0.0072
97

0.007
73

before
collision

0.161
006

0.0094
37

0.001
577

after
collision

before
collision
after
collision
before
collision

Table 2.2 Showing the difference between above values

Momentum(i
nitial final)
(Ns)
1

-0.04674

Kinetic
Energy(in
itial
final) (J)
0.165524

S.E (for
Moment
um) (Ns)

0.006911
2

-0.01376

-0.04603

-0.00657

-0.05161

0.001298
0.016734

S.E
(for
K.E)
(J)
0.0508
28
0.0020
81
0.0093
07

Table 3.1
Num
ber
of
trials
1

Ave Total
Momentum(N
s)

Ave Total
Kinetic
Energy(J)

Se
Momentum
(Ns)

Se Kinetic
Energy(J)

0.266121

0.21302

0.010793

0.014578

0.242673

0.002542

0.005845

0.00075

0.325622

0.309024

0.002706

0.004607

0.306319
0.267833

0.00841
0.199643

0.001353
0.001105

0.000311
0.001556

Comme
nt

before
Collision
after
Collision
before
Collision
after
Collision
before

0.251961

0.005711

0.001295

0.000178

Collision
after
Collision

The above table was for rubber-cart connection collision, and the table below
is showing the difference between the value before and after collision.
Table 3.2 Difference between the values
Momentum(i
nitial final)
(Ns)

Kinetic
Energy(in
itial
final) (J)

0.023447

0.210478

0.019303

0.300614

0.015872

0.193932

1
2
3

S.E (for
Moment
um) (Ns)
0.016637
674
0.004059
249
0.002400
175

S.E
(for
K.E)
(J)
0.0153
28
0.0049
18
0.0017
33

Table 4.1: Values calculated for Cart-Clay connection

Num
ber
of
trials
1

Ave Total
Momentum(N
s)

Ave Total
Kinetic
Energy(J)

Se
Momentum
(Ns)

Se Kinetic
Energy(J)

0.212864

0.129522

0.007972

0.008608

0.237579

0.027482

0.000716

0.000144

0.267416

0.20661

0.005233

0.007173

0.284116

0.039552

0.000827

0.000238

0.336243

0.29284

0.004968

0.008525

0.352104

0.05769

0.001271

0.000434

Comme
nt

before
Collision
after
Collision
before
Collision
after
Collision
before
Collision
after
Collision

Table 4.2: Showing the difference between initial and final values
Momentum(i
nitial final)
(Ns)

Kinetic
Energy(in
itial
final) (J)

S.E (for
Moment
um) (Ns)

S.E
(for
K.E)
(J)

1
-0.02471

0.10204

0.008688

-0.0167

0.167058

0.00606

-0.33624

-0.29284

0.004968

2
3

0.0087
52
0.0074
11
0.0085
25

From Table 2.2, 3.2, 4.2 tables, it is clear that momentum is conserving in the
setup in which mass spring connection is involved. Also the Kinetic energy is
conserving more in the setup when Velcro was attached with the masses.
Before the collision, and after the collision when the energy graph is steady,
it will be the time range of interest, and we have measured the average
values in that region.
As momentum average value is -0.04674 0.006911

which is very near to

conserve but it is not showing the hundred percent accuracy, so by reducing

rolling friction and air friction one can get the conservation of momentum to
very close value.
In the case of Spring an average value of K.E increased after collision which
can be seen from the Table 2. In the case of rubber and clay the K.E
dramatically reduced which can be seen from Table 3 and Table 4.
Conclusion:
The conservation of Kinetic energy and Momentum were understood by the
collision of the carts experiment. The results of different scenarios showed
numerically that Kinetic energy was very nearly conserving in the spring cart
collision. From the table 2.1
K.E (avg for 3rd value before collision) = 0.1094
K.E (avg for 3rd value after collision) = 0.161006

So these values are very much close due to storage of energy in the spring
during the collision and after that was released.

REFERENCE:
1. Brown, T.M. (1965). "Resource letter EEC-1 on the evolution of energy
concepts from Galileo to Helmholtz". American Journal of
Physics 33 (10):
759765.Bibcode:1965AmJPh..33..759B. doi:10.1119/1.1970980