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Atwood Machine Lab

This document describes an experiment to study conservation of momentum using a ballistic pendulum. The experiment involves firing a ball from a spring gun that then collides with a pendulum. Measurements are taken of the ball's horizontal distance traveled and the pendulum's angle after collision. Calculations are done to determine momentum before and after collision, as well as kinetic energy, and results show conservation of momentum with a small discrepancy likely due to measurement error. The objective is to demonstrate conservation of momentum through an inelastic and elastic collision.

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Abbey Ezedonmwen
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129 views

Atwood Machine Lab

This document describes an experiment to study conservation of momentum using a ballistic pendulum. The experiment involves firing a ball from a spring gun that then collides with a pendulum. Measurements are taken of the ball's horizontal distance traveled and the pendulum's angle after collision. Calculations are done to determine momentum before and after collision, as well as kinetic energy, and results show conservation of momentum with a small discrepancy likely due to measurement error. The objective is to demonstrate conservation of momentum through an inelastic and elastic collision.

Uploaded by

Abbey Ezedonmwen
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

Ezedonmwen 1

Conversation of
Momentum

Abigail Ezedonmwen
@02752222

Ezedonmwen 2

Partners: Nahtique Guillory, Utsab Khakurel,


Shaquille Fredrick, Tatyana Kincherlow, and
Amber Childs-Santos
Objective: To study the conservation of energy and momentum
using projectile motion.
Theory: The ballistic pendulum experiment demonstrates the
constant of horizontal velocity and its relation to conservation of
momentum. In this experiment they are two collisions that are
inelastic and elastic depending on your systems.
Apparatus:
CENCO Pendulum
Level
Meter Stick

Carbon paper with white


paper
Plumb Bob
TI-84 Silver Edition
Calculator

Procedure:

1. Lift the pendulum arm to the maximum position


labeled 40 so that the ball can freely fire from the
spring gun.
2. Set the apparatus near the edge of a table and level
the apparatus using a paper wedges if necessary.
3. Be sure that a clear path is set for the projectile
ball to assure accurate results in the calculation of
the distance.
4. Load and fire the gun to locate an approximation of
the impact on the floor.
5. Use two sheets of stapled paper with a carbon sheet
in between.
6. With the carbon sheet facing down, tape the sheets
to the floor where the ball struck.
7. Make at least three trials in the horizontal range.
Record the distance the projectile ball traveled

Ezedonmwen 3
from the tip of the ballistic gun to the mark that is
made by the projectile. Record the vertical distance
from the tip of the ballistic gun to the floor.
8. Release the pendulum to allow the ball to be fired
and caught by the pendulum.
9. Fire the ball into the ball catcher and record the
readings on the scale that correspond to the angle
at which the inelastic collision moved. Record the
reading and find an approximation to the angle.
10.
Repeat this process three times.
11.
Measure the mass of the ball use the provided
length and mass of the pendulum, which has been
taped, to the apparatus.
12.
Determine the horizontal speed of the projectile
13.
Calculate the momentum of the ball before
collision and compare it to the momentum after
collision.
14.
Calculate the kinetic energy of the ball before
impact and the kinetic energy of the ball and
pendulum after the collision.
15.
Compare the quantities and explain any
discrepancies.

Calculations: Attached on separate piece of paper.

Conclusion: The objective of this experiment is to prove


the conversation of momentum. The two numbers I received
from following the procedure and the use of equations had a
difference of .02. This discrepancy of .02 is probably due to
signofgant figures and human error.

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