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MATERIALS STICKY COLLISIONS

/ Probeware lab available
meterstick
four lab carts that will stick or
lock together upon collision
camera with video capabilities
Background: In this activity, one moving cart will strike a
stationary cart. During the collision, the two carts will stick
together. You will measure mass and velocity, both before and
after the collision. You then will calculate the momentum both
before and after the collision.
Question
How is the momentum of a system affected by a sticky
collision?
Objectives
 Describe how momentum is transferred during a collision.
 Calculate the momentums involved.
 Interpret data from a collision.
 Draw conclusions that support the law of conservation of
momentum.
Procedure
1. Read the procedure and the safety information, and
complete the lab form.
2. Measure the mass of each cart and record these values
in the data table.
3. Determine the frame rate of your camera.
4. Place a meterstick along a table. Place Cart 1 at one end
of the meterstick and Cart 2 at the 50-cm mark.

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 5. Begin filming. Push Cart 1 so that it collides with Cart 2.
6. Watch your video frame by frame. Determine the
distance Cart 1 travels in 0.1 s before the collision and the
distance the Cart 1-Cart 2 system travels in 0.1 s after the
collision. Record these values in the data table.
7. Stack Cart 1 and Cart 3. Repeat steps 4–6 with the Cart
1-Cart 3 system striking the initially stationary Cart 2.
8. Stack Cart 2 and Cart 3. Repeat steps 4–6 with Cart 1
striking the initially stationary Cart 2-Cart 3 system.
9. Stack Cart 1 and Cart 3. Stack Cart 2 and Cart 4. Repeat
steps
4–6 with the Cart 1-Cart 3 striking the initially stationary
Cart 2-Cart 4 system.

Data Tables
Cart Mass (kg)
1
2
3
4

Time of Distance Initial Mass of Initial

Approach Covered in Velocity Approaching Momentum
(s) Approach (cm) (cm/s) Cart(s) (g) (g∙cm/s)
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1

Time of Distance Final Mass of Final

Departure Covered in Velocity Departing Momentum
(s) Departure (cm) (cm/s) Cart(s) (g) (g∙cm/s)
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1

Chapter 5 Ÿ Momentum and Its Conservation

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Analyze Your Data
1. Calculate the initial and final velocities for each of the cart systems. Record your answers in the
data table.
2. Calculate the initial and final momentum for each of the cart systems. Record your answers in
the data table.
3. Make a graph showing final momentum versus initial momentum for all the video clips.

Conclude and Apply

1. What is the relationship between the initial momentum and the final momentum of the cart
systems in a sticky collision?

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2. In theory, what should be the slope of the line in your graph?

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3. The initial and final data numbers may not be the same due to the precision of the instruments,
friction, and other variables. Is the initial momentum typically greater or less than the final
momentum? Explain.

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Chapter 5 Ÿ Momentum and Its Conservation

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Going Further
1. Describe what the velocity and momentum data might look like if the carts did not stick
together, but rather, bounced off of each other.

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2. Design an experiment to test the impact of friction during the collision of the cart systems.
Predict how the slope of the line in your graph will change with your experiment, and then try
your experiment.

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Real-World Physics
1. Suppose a linebacker collides with a stationary quarterback and they become entangled. What
will happen to the velocity of the linebacker-quarterback system if momentum is conserved?

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2. If a car rear-ends a stationary car so that the two cars become attached, what will happen to the
velocity of the first car? The second car?

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Chapter 5 Ÿ Momentum and Its Conservation

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Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
 Chapter 5 Ÿ Momentum and Its Conservation

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Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.