CONSERVATION

OF
MOMENTUM

BY:
Bhutas Polpanich
Nakulkarn Pollom
Rawipol Prasertboon
Porrat Wannathip
 INTRODUCTION

In this lab report, we experienced and

studied on conservation of momentum.
The Law of Conservation of Momentum
states that the momentum of any closed,
isolated system does not change.
Because of the momentum lost by
one object is gained by the other object,
that means the total momentum before
and after collision would be the same,
knowing as conservation.

The expression can be shown as :

CONSERVATION OF MOMENTUM PAGE 03

OBJECTIVES

We know that momentum is the

quantity of motion that an object has,
so the objective of this experiment is to
understand the concepts of the
Law of Conservation of Momentum.
Therefore, we want to demonstrate
this idea in the lab report.
SET-UP
MATERIALS

Low friction
Vernier Track

Vernier cart

Mass scale

Stopwatch
PROCEDURE
ELASTIC

1.Weigh the mass of the two vernier

carts on the mass scale, then record
the data

2.Mark 3 spots on the track 20 cm

apart and place one cart at the middle
spot and the other before
the first spot.

3.Once the vernier carts are placed in

order, the first-timer pushes cart A to
hit cart B.

HEIMAN SOFTWARE LABS PAGE 02

PROCEDURE
ELASTIC

4.The first-timer stops timing when cart A

hit cart B.

5.The second-timer records the time with

another stopwatch and stops it when the
Vernier cart A reaches 20 cm. from the
beginning point.

6.Record the data on the data table.

 PROCEDURE
INELAST IC

1. Weigh the mass of the two

vernier carts on the mass scale,
then record the data.

2. Mark 3 spots on the track 20 cm

apart and place one cart at the
middle spot and the other before
the first spot.

3. Once the vernier carts are

placed in order, the first-timer
pushes cart A to hit cart B.

HEIMAN SOFTWARE LABS PAGE 02

 PROCEDURE
INELAST IC
4. The first-timer stops timing when
cart A hit cart B.

5. The second-timer records the

time with another stopwatch and
stops it when two cars reach 20 cm.
from the beginning point.

6. Record the data on the data table.

HEIMAN SOFTWARE LABS PAGE 02

CALCULATION
INELASTIC
M1 = 514.10 g. V1i = 0 cm/s
M2 = 510.54 g. V2i = 74 cm/s

Momentum before collision

= M1v1 + M2V2  
= (514.10 x 0) + (510.54 x 74)          
= 37779.96 kg⋅m/s

Momentum after collision

= (M1 +M2) x Vf                        
= (514.10 + 510.54) x 28.99        
= 29704.31 kg⋅m/s

V1f = V2f =28.99 cm/s

Percent difference = 23.93%

CALCULATION
ELASTIC
M1 = 514.10 g.         V1i = 0 cm/s
M2 = 510.54 g.       V2i = 42.64 cm/s
  
Momentum before collision
= M1V1 + M2V2  
= (514.10 x 0) + (510.54 x 42.55)          
= 21723.477 kg⋅m/s

Momentum after collision

= M1V1f + M2V2f                        
V1f = 41.26 cm/s
= (514.10 x 40.8) + (510.54 x 0)        
V2f = 0 cm/s
= 20975.28 kg⋅m/s

Percent difference = 3.5%

ANALYSIS
velocity final (elastic)
22.1%

velocity initial (inelastic)

39.6%

velocity initial (elastic)

22.8%

velocity final (inelastic)

15.5%

From the results of the experiment, for inelastic

collision the momentum before the collision is
21723.477 kg⋅m/s and = 20975.28 kg⋅m/s for
after, which is a 3.5% difference. The result was
very satisfactory. However, there is a 23.9%
error in elastic collision, with the momentum
before collision of 37779.96 kg⋅m/s and after
29704.31 kg⋅m/s. We are unsure of why there
was a huge percent difference. The likely cause
is that the carts were too fast we didn’t measure
the time precisely enough. We have tried doing
the elastic collision multiple times but ended up
getting the same results. The magnets on the
cart also might have had an effect on the
resulting momentum. The track could not have
been the problem because we used the same
track for both inelastic and elastic collision. We
have also verified our calculation.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION

From the results we can

conclude that most of the
momentum between the two
cars are conserved, which
means that only some
momentum is lost during
the process of collision.
This is due to some
imperfections in the
experiment such as friction
and air resistance.
For momentum to be
completely conserved,
the experiment must take
place in a closed and
isolated system.
RECOMMENDATION

In this experiment the major blunder that

we faced is the time error and the speed of the
objects. We did an experiment a couple of
times and realized that our percent error
is more than the standard. Resulting in redoing
the experiment over again. But still we had the
same error as we did last time. So we decided to
call for help. The teacher came over and told us
that the time we recorded is not accurate and
the speed of the objects is not stable.
Once again that we had to redo the whole
process, but this time the result is in the
standard range.

If possible we should concentrate more of

the time in the first place so that we can do
something else instead of struggling with this
issue.
 WORK LOG

Doing the introduction part ,materials

and methods part and calculation
part. Also, decorating the report as
well.

NAKULKARN

Wrote the recommendation and help

to sort out the information.

RAWIPOL

HEIMAN SOFTWARE LABS PAGE 07

 WORK LOG

Wrote the Analysis, Created the Set-

up pictures, Got the Material
pictures, Some grammar checks.

BHUTAS

Write the conclusion and do the

calculation on paper for the whole
experiment. Also check for grammar
mistakes.

PORRAT

HEIMAN SOFTWARE LABS PAGE 07