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Momentum_Lab_Report

The experiment aimed to demonstrate the principle of conservation of momentum using a Newton's Cradle. It showed that when the first ball is released, its momentum is transferred through the stationary balls to the last ball, which moves with nearly the same velocity as the first ball. The results confirmed the conservation of momentum and Newton's Third Law of Motion, with some energy lost as sound and heat.

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7 views

Momentum_Lab_Report

The experiment aimed to demonstrate the principle of conservation of momentum using a Newton's Cradle. It showed that when the first ball is released, its momentum is transferred through the stationary balls to the last ball, which moves with nearly the same velocity as the first ball. The results confirmed the conservation of momentum and Newton's Third Law of Motion, with some energy lost as sound and heat.

Uploaded by

kimanyclarke12
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Conservation of Momentum Experiment

Objective:
To demonstrate the principle of conservation of momentum.

Theory/Research:

What is momentum?
Momentum is the product of an object's mass and velocity. It is a measure of the motion of
an object and is given by the formula:

p = mv

where p is momentum, m is mass, and v is velocity.

Is it a scalar or a vector quantity?


Momentum is a vector quantity because it has both magnitude and direction.

What does the principle of conservation of momentum state?


The principle of conservation of momentum states that in a closed system, where no
external forces act, the total momentum before an interaction is equal to the total
momentum after the interaction.

Write a formula associated with the principle.


The formula for the conservation of momentum is:

m₁v₁ + m₂v₂ = m₁v₁' + m₂v₂'

where m₁ and m₂ are masses of two objects, v₁ and v₂ are their initial velocities, and v₁' and
v₂' are their velocities after collision.

Apparatus:
Four identical balls on a support (Newton’s Cradle)

Diagram:
The diagram above shows a Newton's Cradle, which consists of four identical balls
suspended in a row by strings. When one ball is lifted and released, it collides with the
others, demonstrating momentum transfer.

Procedure:
- The first ball was pulled aside and released.

- The motion of the balls after the collision was observed.


- The number of balls displaced after impact was recorded.

- The experiment was repeated several times to ensure accuracy.

Observation:
When the first ball was released and struck the second ball, the last ball in the row moved
away with approximately the same velocity as the first ball before impact. The middle balls
remained nearly stationary.

Data Analysis:

What happened to the momentum of the first ball?


The momentum of the first ball was transferred to the second ball upon collision.

What happened to the momentum gained by the second ball?


The second ball transferred the momentum to the third ball, which then passed it to the
fourth ball, causing the last ball to move.

How do the observations support the principle of conservation of momentum?


Since the last ball moved with nearly the same speed as the first ball before impact, the total
momentum of the system remained constant, supporting the principle of momentum
conservation.

Describe what occurred in terms of forces.


The force exerted by the first ball on the second ball was transmitted through the stationary
balls via elastic collision, ultimately causing the last ball to move. This illustrates Newton's
Third Law of Motion: 'For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.'

Describe the basic energy changes taking place in the system.


- Initially, the first ball had gravitational potential energy, which converted into kinetic
energy as it fell.
- Upon collision, kinetic energy was transferred to the last ball, causing it to move.
- Some energy was lost as sound and heat due to friction and air resistance.

Conclusion:
The experiment successfully demonstrated the principle of conservation of momentum. The
momentum from the first ball was transferred through the system, resulting in the last ball
moving while the middle balls remained stationary. This experiment also confirmed
Newton’s Third Law of Motion, as the action of the first ball led to a reaction in the last ball.
The minor loss of energy due to sound and heat aligns with real-world applications of
momentum conservation.

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