Geromini 1

Conservation of Momentum The Ballistic Pendulum

Experiment Number Seven (M4)
Performed 2 November 2010

Paul Geromini and Partner : Mark Field

Instructor: David DiGiovanni 91.141.805

Geromini 2 Objective To test if the laws governing the momentum and the mechanical energy of a totally inelastic collision are correct. The data produced by the equations will be compared to the data produced by the experiment. Introduction When two bodies collide into each other each body exerts an equal and opposite force on each other. In the absence of any other external force they experience an equal and directly opposite change in momentum. Thus the total momentum of both bodies in the system will remain constant throughout the collision. This is called the law of conservation of momentum. In this experiment both bodies will stick to each other upon collision. This is called a totally inelastic collision. Even though the momentum of both bodies is conserved the kinetic energy is not. It is mostly lost through heat and inelastic deformation. The apparatus, which will be used in the test, is made up of a pendulum and a spring gun. The spring gun is used to propel the projectile, (a metal ball). The pendulum is a heavy bob which is hollow so that it can receive the launched projectile. It is suspended by a light, also hollow, metal rod which is pivoted at its upper end. The projectile is a small steel ball which is captured by the bob after it is fired. A marker on the side of the bob indicates where the center of mass on the pendulum system is. When the projectile is launched the pendulum will capture the projectile, it will swing in an upward arc, and produce an angle. The final angle will be marked on the system. The projectile can be launched with three different velocities (short, medium, and long). If the projectile, which has a mass m and an initial velocity u, is fired in a horizontal direction into the pendulum of mass M, which initially stands at rest in a vertical position, then the pendulum bob, with the projectile encased inside it, will be given a velocity v. Since the external force of gravity will only act on vertical forces, the momentum in the horizontal direction will be preserved. This is of course only true if the collision occurs (and the final velocity v is achieved) before the pendulum has a chance to swing upwards. This happens only if M (mass of the pendulum) is greater than m (mass of the projectile). From the conservation of momentum we can write: pi = pf ................................................................equation #1 Where pi = mu is the total amount of initial momentum of the system before collision. Also pf = mv + Mv is the total amount of final momentum immediately preceding the collision. Therefore: mu = ( m + M )v.....................................................equation #2 This is the formula that will be tested in this experiment. Thus both the initial velocity and final velocity must be found through independent measurements. To find u, or the initial velocity of the projectile when it is shot horizontally from the spring gun can be determined by measuring the range x when the projectile is allowed to fall freely under gravity

Geromini 3 through a height y. In a time interval t the projectile falls vertically through a distance: y = 1/2(gt)2 In the same time interval the horizontal displacement will be : x = ut If t is eliminated and the equation is solved for u it produces: u = x(g/2y)................................................equation #3 The initial momentum of the system immediately before the collision can thus be expressed in the form: pi = mx(g/2y)...................................................equation #4 To find velocity ( even though rotational energy and angular momentum of the pendulum system are not included ) the pendulum bob must be analyzed. The velocity v given to the pendulum bob from the collision causes it to swing in a circular arc. The system thus moves under the influence of the earth's gravitational force. Whereas the momentum is no longer conserved the total mechanical energy of the system is conserved. When the pendulum reaches rest at the center of mass of the system it will have risen a total height h. At this point the kinetic energy of the system is entirely converted to that of potential energy. This results in the following equation: 1/2(m+M)v2 = (m+M)gh Which will produce: v = (2gh).....................................................equation #5 To find the vertical height h, the device has an attached protractor for measuring the final angle produced by the collision. By measuring the initial angle i when the pendulum hangs freely and then the final angle f after it reaches the max height h. Thus h can be found using ( i-f ) and using the equation : h = Lcm (|l - cos( i-f ) | ) This is where Lcm is the length of the pendulum to its center-of-mass. The length and mass for this unit are: Lcm = 0.27m and M = 0.240 kg With the value for the height the final momentum of the system immediately preceding the collision can be expressed as such: pf = (m+M)(2gh).................................................equation #6

Geromini 4 Thus the measured values can be compared to the values from the experiment to see if the law of conservation of momentum holds. The loss due to kinetic energy in the system resulting from the collision can be predicted using the following derivations. Before the collision occurs it is known that: Ki = (1/2)mu2............................................equation #7 Immediately following the collision the final kinetic energy is expressed thus: Kf = (1/2)(m+M)v2..............................................equation #8 Using the conservation of momentum (equation #2) Kf can be written in terms of u, thus producing: Kf = (1/2)(m2 / (m+M) )u2...............................................equation #9 Thus the fractional loss in kinetic energy K/Ki is expressed as: K/Ki = (Ki Kf ) /(Ki) = 1 Kf / Ki Using equations #7 and equation #9 the following formula is produced: Kf / Ki = m / (m+M) Using these equations the fractional loss in kinetic energy can be expressed in the following form: K/K = M / (m+M).................................................equation #10 According to this equation it can be seen that the loss in kinetic energy of the system, resulting from the collision, is determined entirely by the masses of the projectile and the pendulum. Thus it is independent of the velocities involved. Procedure Initial steps involved insuring everything was correct with the lab equipment. The group ensured that all the equipment was functioning normally and that the group had the proper materials. Then the group measured the weight of the projectile and determined the initial angle of the pendulum. After this the experiment was started proper. First the group had to determine the velocity of the projectile at the three different range settings, starting with the long setting. To do this the apparatus was placed on the table (see diagram #2) and its height off the ground was measured. Then graph paper and a marking sheet were placed about where the projectile was expected to land (the graph paper was taped down to ensure it did not move). The projectile was then shot (with the pendulum taped up out of the way), it landed on the marking sheet, and it left a mark on the graph paper. This was done three times for the long setting. The three dots made on the graph paper were then averaged (in other words the midpoint was found between two marks and then using the midpoint of those marks the midpoint of the third shot was

Geromini 5 found, resulting in an average spot )and that average spot where the projectile landed was measured (in the x direction) from where the pendulum system was. This process was repeated for the other two launch settings (medium and then short). Next the system was setup so that the pendulum would catch the projectile (see diagram #1). The group first used the long firing setting on the launcher. A projectile was placed at the end of the barrel and shot. The pendulum bod then caught the projectile and the pendulum would mark the final angle the projectile had reached. Then the pendulum would be reset and the process would be done two more times. Thus in total this was done three times for the long setting. This process was repeated exactly for the other two launch settings (medium and short). Having collected all the data the station was cleaned up and everything was returned to the state it was found in. Results and Analysis All of the experimental data and analysis have been recorded onto Data Page #1. On that data page is Table #1 Determination of the Final Momentum and Kinetic Energy which is data relating to the projectile launch and the pendulum catching it. Also is Table #2 Determination of Initial Momentum and Kinetic Energy which is data related to how far the projectile traveled and its velocity when shot off the table. Lastly is Table #3 Changes in Momentum and Kinetic Energy which lists the changes in momentum and kinetic energy along with the percent error. Discussion This experiment set out to test the laws of momentum and mechanical energy for a totally inelastic collision. The law states that in an inelastic collision the initial momentum of the system will be the same as the final momentum. This is true as the data shows. For instance on the long setting the initial momentum (from Data Page #1) was 0.32 (kg.m/s) and the final momentum was 0.315 (kg.m/s). This is only a difference of 2.97%. This slight difference is accountable as the collision is not totally inelastic. This is the case since some of the momentum is lost when the pendulum bob captures the projectile as it is not a perfect capture. In reference to the kinetic energy, most of the energy is lost. The data shows this. For instance on the long setting there was an initial kinetic energy of 0.8 joules, but only a final kinetic energy of 0.158 joules. This is a difference of 78.7% which is quite significant. This is accountable as the projectile loses most of its kinetic energy as it dissipates through the generation of heat and through inelastic deformation. There was little chance for error in this lab as most of the system was contained and required very little calibration by the experimenters. The only thing of note is that there is an 8.2% difference between the initial momentum and final momentum of the projectile for the medium launch setting. This is unusual since the other two have percent difference of 1%-3% which is normal. This difference means that some momentum was lost in the collision which should not have occurred. It is therefore likely a mistake was made measuring the velocity of the medium launch. That mistake then rippled down and made the momentum appear off.

Geromini 6 Diagrams Diagram #1: Ballistic Pendulum

Geromini 7 Diagram #2: Pendulum System Setup on Table

Geromini 8 Questions 1. The final force exerted on the pendulum would be 0.3105 Joules. It does not matter how long the collision takes. Any collision will transfer energy from the projectile to the object it hits regardless of the amount of time in contact. 2. In the long range case the work done on the spring would be slightly over the initial kinetic energy for that case. The initial kinetic energy is 0.8 joules. This answer is based on the conservation of energy law which states that the total energy of a closed system will remain the same (part of this law also says that potential energy is equal to kinetic energy). Since the only thing acting on the projectile is the spring then the initial kinetic energy of the projectile must have the same amount of potential energy that the spring had. The only only thing that gave that spring energy was the person setting it up. The reason that it must be slightly about 0.8 joules is that some of the energy put into the spring is lost when it becomes kinetic energy because it is not a perfectly closed system (there is a small amount lost to friction and air resistance). 3. a) The height of the pendulum would be higher after impact as there would be less of a downward force acting on the pendulum bob, since the gravity is less. The less gravity the longer it takes for the pendulum to slow to 0m/s thus the higher it will go up. b) The range of the projectile would be greater since the main reason the projectile hits the ground is the force of gravity. If the gravitational force were lesser it would take a longer time for the projectile to fall to the ground and thus more time for it to remain in the air. The more time in the air the longer it will travel c) The values for the kinetic energy and momentum would be different since those values are reliant on the mass of the projectile and the pendulum bob. If the gravitational force is lesser than those two masses will be lesser. Yet the velocity will remain the same. Thus kinetic energy and momentum will be less with a gravitational force of 5m/s2.