Objective: To demonstrate the Law of Conservation of Momentum

Introduction :

- Momentum refers to property of moving project. There are many kind of

momentum in Physics field, such as momentum in one dimension, momentum in two
dimensions, angular momentum, momentum acted in the energy of moving photon
which is wave that can act as particle, and so on. Since we are taking a basic
courses of Physics, the experiment that we will do will cover on momentum in x axis
or in one dimension. Also, there are three types of collision, including elastic collision,
inelastic collision, and super collision. In all of these, momentum are conserved if
there isnt the force outside system acts on the objects. However, in elastic collision,
the kinetic energy are conserved during the process. In inelastic collision, there is
kinetic energy lost as heat after the collision. In perfectly inelastic collision, objects
are completely stick to each other. Lastly, in super collision, there is the gain of
internal energy before collision. In this experiment, we will cover on only elastic
collision and inelastic collision.
In this experiment, we will prove that momentum are really conserve in the elastic
collision and inelastic collision. We will find out the given mass at first, then we will
find the velocity of two objects by kinematic equation in linear movement. Lastly, we
would be able to find out the velocity after collision by conservation of momentum.
Then, if there is lack of error, momentum before collision and after collision would be
the same.

Materials:
- 1 low friction Vernier Track
- 2 Vernier cart
- Mass Scale
- Stop watch

Procedure:
1. Set up the track.
2. Ensure that the track is levelled before you start with the experiment.
3. Mark which is your cart1 and cart2. Dont interchange carts throughout the
experiment.
4. Do the elastic collision first.
5. Set cart1 at 100 cm.
6. Push cart2 and let it go until it reached 80 cm and start the stopwatch.
7. When cart2 hit cart1 at 100cm, then click a stopwatch at a reset button.
8. After cart2 hit cart1, cart2 become at rest and cart1 moving with the speed that
cart 2 gave to it.
9. When cart1 reached 120 cm, press the button on the stopwatch.
10. We will get the velocity of the carts by calculating using time that we get from
the stopwatch and the distance that we have measured.
 11. Do the inelastic collision.
12. Repeats steps 5-7.
13. After cart2 hit cart1, cart1 and cart2 become united and move forward together.
14. When they reached 120 cm, press the button on the stopwatch.
15. Repeats step 10.

Result
Value Inelastic Collision Elastic Collision

Mass1 502.24 g 502.24 g

Mass2 507.74 g 507.74 g

Initial Velocity 1 0 0

Initial Velocity 2 40 cm/s 57.14 cm/s

Distance travelled by 20 cm 20 cm
Cart2 before collision

Distance travelled by 20 cm 20 cm
Cart1 and Cart2 after
collision

Velocity After 1 20.109 cm/s 57.76 cm/s

Velocity After 2 - 0

2b0 0 % 0.009927%

Analysis of Results:
From the result of inelastic, Mass 2 with the slight larger weight has travelled with
initial velocity of 40 cm/s, colliding the Mass 1. Mass 1 placed at 100 cm away from
Mass 2 has zero velocity. The time was initially recorded once Mass 2 was
approaching 20 cm away before collision. As both of them collided, the time would be
continuously recorded for 20 cm after collision. The velocity has halfway dropped to
20.109 cm/s. On the other hand, unlike the result of inelastic, with the identical weight
on both objects, the velocity in elastic experiment has a slight change. As soon as the
Mass 2 collided the Mass 1, passing its force onto another object, it rebounded and
stopped without any deformation. Therefore the Mass 1 continued moving on the
track with remain the velocity.
Conclusion:
When cart1 hit cart2, the force on the car1 exchange kinetic energy with cart2. Cart2
gains kinetic energy from cart1, while cart2 gain kinetic energy from cart1.

Recommendation:
For further experiment, we recommend to use stopwatch instead of use
smartphone, because stopwatch indicates number more accuracy than smartphone.
Luckily, in this experiment we use the stopwatch that the lab technicians gave to us,
so our results will be accurate. In order to get more accurate values the mass of the
carts should be perfectly equal, but in this experiment the mass of the carts that we
use arent perfectly the same, so this factor might makes the result to not be accurate.
The force that we applied in each time isnt the same, so it will affects the result which
makes it value to not be accurate.

References:

Work log:
Members Works

Krissaanapong Nimanussornkul Calculate the result

Write the introduction
Record the result

Tanwarat Kuariyakul Do the experiment

Create the result data
Write the worklog

Raweroad Opornsawat Do the experiment

Write the procedure
Record the result

Daran Rungwatthanasophon Do the experiment

Write the analysis result

Sippaphon Sathapornruengrai Do the experiment