Verifying the Law of Conservation of

Momentum

Jeremy Vosen
Lili Lackner

Mrs. Rudstrom

January 26, 2012

Introduction

The Law of Conservation of Momentum lab was performed using an air

track that minimized friction, allowing us to test or hypotheses. Our first

hypothesis is momentum is conserved in elastic and inelastic equations, so
pi=pf. Our second hypothesis is kinetic energy is conserved in elastic collisions
but not in perfectly inelastic collisions. Our first collisions consisted of air
gliders crashing into each other and bouncing back separately, while our
second collisions involved crashing two air gliders together that stuck together
and moved as one. While the air track did allow us to minimize friction, it did
not completely remove it.

Materials

Air track

Two air gliders

Two photogates

Masses

Clay

Method

While doing to lab, it is a good idea to have one person performing the
collisions while the other person collects data using LoggerPro.
1. The masses of both air gliders were recorded in columns m1 and
m2.
2. The air track was prepared for an elastic collision. One air glider was
set on the far left and the other air glider was placed between the
two photogates.
3. The collect was pushed, and air glider one hit air glider two in an
eleastic collision. The velocities were recorded in the table.
4. Steps 2 and 3 were repeated, with air glider two having 100 grams of
extra mass.

5. The air trach was prepared for a perfectly inelastic collision. A piece
of clay was placed on air glider two and the glider was put it between
the photo gates. The air glider one was placed at the far left. One
note card was removed from the air gliders.
6. Hit collect and push air glider one into air glider two. The initial
velocity and combined final velocity were recorded in the data table.
7. Steps 5 and 6 were repeated with air glider two having 100 grams of
extra mass.

Data
Column1

Column2

Column3

p,i

p,f

Collision 1

0.078 kg*m/s

0.072 kg*m/s

Collision 2

0.128 kg*m/s

0.125 kg*m/s

Collision 3

0.095 kg*m/s

0.080 kg*m/s

Collision 4

0.133 kg*m/s

0.063 kg*m/s

Momentum
Column1

Column2

Column3

Column4

KEi

KEf

% Lost

Collision 1

0.014 J

0.012 J

14%

Collision 2
Collision 3
Collision 4

0.036 J
0.020 J
0.039 J

0.034 J
0.007 J
0.004 J

6%
65%
90%

Kinetic Energy
Column1

Column2

Column3

Column4

Column5 Column6 Column7

m1

V1,i

V1,f

m2

V2,i

V2,f

Collision 1 0.226 kg

0.347 m/s

0 m/s

0.226 kg

0 m/s

0.320 m/s

Collision 2 0.226 kg

0.568 m/s

Neg.
0.091m/s

0.326 kg

0 m/s

0.449 m/s

Collision 3 0.226 kg

0.421 m/s

0.177 m/s

0.226 kg

0 m/s

0.177 m/s

Collision 4 0.226 kg

0.590 m/s

0.115 m/s

0.326 kg

0 m/s

0.115 m/s

Column1

Column2

Column3

Column4

Column5 Column6 Column7

m1

V1,i

V1,f

m2

V2,i

V2,f

0.347 m/s

0 m/s

0.226 kg

0 m/s

0.320 m/s

Collision 2 0.226 kg

0.568 m/s

Neg.
0.091m/s

0.326 kg

0 m/s

0.449 m/s

Collision 3 0.226 kg

0.421 m/s

0.177 m/s

0.226 kg

0 m/s

0.177 m/s

Collision 4 0.226 kg

0.590 m/s

0.115 m/s

0.326 kg

0 m/s

0.115 m/s

Collision 1 0.226 kg

Results and Discussion

Using the data obtained through our air track trials, we then calculated

exactly how much initial momentum and kinetic energy; final momentum and
kinetic energy; and how much percent of kinetic energy was lost through these
collisions. To calculate momentum we used the equation pi=pf which expands
to m1v1,i+m2v2,i=m1v1,f+m2v2,f . We substituted our numbers obtained
through the experiment into the left side of the equation to get our pi and the
right side to get our pf. Since these two values are very close (for example,
Collision 1: pi=0.078 kg*m/s & pf= 0.072 kg*m/s), we can say that our first
hypothesis was accepted. Collisions 3 and 4 showed significant loss in
momentum which probably ensued from the use of clay . Had we used Velcro I
believe the two values would have been very close. Next we used the equations
KEi=1/2m1v12 and KEf= 1/2m2v22 to find the KEi, KEf, and the % lost. We
substituted our numbers obtained through the experiment into the equations
and found out that KE is conserved in elastic equations but not in perfectly
inelastic equations (65% and 90 % decrease in KE in an inelastic, compared to
6% and 14% in an elastic collision), supporting our second hypothesis. We

noticed, however, that there were still small amounts of KE lost during the
elastic collisions. This is most likely due to friction, because the air track did
not completely remove it. There could also have been some calculation errors
which would lead to inaccurate data as well.

Conclusion

Through this experiment we were able to successfully prove our two
hypotheses: that momentum is conserved, and that kinetic energy is only
conserved in elastic collisions. Again, there were some slight discrepancies
which happened due to small amounts of friction and the use of clay instead of
Velcro. There could have been miscalculations also. Doing experiments like
this could have valuable applications in places like the auto industry, in which
they need this data to test for safety. Although not used in this lab, the
impulse equation could be used to better enhance the safety of vehicles. The
more time during the collision, the less force felt on the passengers. This
experiment gave me a greater understanding of collisions and facilitated
performing these calculations.