1

Equations
Equation 1: ! =

!"#$%&%' !" !!! !"##$ !"##

!!!"!#$"% !"#$

Equation 2: !"#$%%$%# = ! + ! !"!#$%
I.

Introduction:

The purpose of this experiment is to prove and explore the concept of conservation of momentum.
Momentum itself is the product of mass and velocity of a given particle. Particle collisions reinforce the
idea of conservation of momentum. It is important to note that these collisions can either be elastic
(energy is conserved) and inelastic collisions (energy is not conserved). A common mistake is made
when momentum conservation is confused with energy conservationmomentum is always conserved.

In this particular experiment, a steel ball is being launched into a stationary cart and the velocity
before and after the collision is examined. The velocity of the ball before the collision is measured using
a photo-gate timer, which calculates the amount of time it takes the ball to pass through a laser beam.
The velocity of the ball and cart as one is calculated using a CBR. In this particular experiment we opted
to take position versus time data and derive our velocity from that. Accurate mass measurements must
also be taken for the steel ball and cart in order to accurately predict what should occur based on the
concept of the conservation of momentum.

The momentum equations can be used to accurately predict what the velocity of the cart will be
and this will be compared with what actually happens according to the data recorded. This lab must be
set up very carefully. It is important to ensure that the photo-gate timer is measuring at the center of
the ball where the length through the laser is the greatest. The track also needs to be as level as
possible, and it is known from other labs that the tables and tracks are not 100% level by themselves. It
is also important that the ball hits the cart straight on, as an angle would substantially reduce the
velocity of the ball and cart together. The CBR must also be straight in order to record correct position
versus time data points. All of this data will be collected and then velocities will be calculated and
recorded at different points in time on the track.
Experimental Log:
i. Equipment:
Scale PHY211TBB10
Cart PHYDYNCO2
CBR 2591000514
Launcher Serial ME6831-17
Photogate Serial ME9215A-3

2

ii. Procedure:
1. Obtain the required materials listed above.
2. Set up the track and place a level on it to ensure that it is not at a slope.
3. Calculate the mass of the cart and catcher.
4. Calculate the mass of the steel ball using something else to contain it
and then subtract the mass of the container from the total mass to get
the mass of the ball.
5. Place CBR at one end of the track.
6. Set up projectile launcher before opposite end of the track.
7. Place photo-gate timer between the start of the track and the projectile
launcher.
8. Ensure that the projectile launcher is level and at the same height as the
catcher on the cart.
9. Insert the steel ball into the projectile launcher.
10. Connect the calculator to the CBR and use the string connected to the
projectile launcher to launch the ball.
11. Repeat this five times and record the data from the CBR.
iii. Post-lab meetings:
1. Thursday March 26th
Purpose: Assign group members a part to work on
Result: Group members exchanged emails and assigned parts
2. (Placeholder for future meetings)

II.

Data and Calculations

DATA
Initial Velocity of the System
Ball Diameter (m) = .0295
Trial
Time (s)
1
.0048
2
.0048
3
.0048
4
.0048
5
.0048
Mean Velocity (m/s) = 6.1458

Velocity (m/s)
6.1458
6.1458
6.1458
6.1458
6.1458

Final Velocity of the System

Time (s)
1.236
2.796
4.301

Velocity (m/s)
-.2860
-.2234
-.1494

Data Region Sampled
Beginning
Middle
End

System Mass Measurements

Steel ball
Cart
Ball catcher

.0672 kg
.48875 kg
.16403 kg

System Momentum
Before collision
(kgm/s)
.4129
.4129
.4129

CALCULATIONS

Comparative Momentum Calculation

System Momentum
Final Velocity Data
After Collision
Sample Region
(kgm/s)
Beginning
.3054
Middle
.27028
End
.2585

% Difference
29.93%
41.75%
48.27%

. 0295
! 1 =
= 6.1458
. 0048
The velocity for each trial is 6.1458 m/s as the photo-gate time was the same for each
trial and the diameter of the ball is constant.

The Mass of the cart must also include the ball catcher.
! = .48875 + .16403 = .65278
Momentum is the product of mass and velocity.
=
The momentum of the system after the collision for each of the three data sample
regions (Pf) is
!"#$%%$%# = ! + ! !"!#$% = . 0672 + .65278 . 42422 = .3054 /
!"##$% = ! + ! !"!#$% = . 0672 + .65278 . 3754 = .27028 /
!"# = ! + ! !"!#$% = . 0672 + .65278 . 35907 = .2585 /
! =

4

III.

Analysis and Discussion III.

The Purpose of this experiment was to produce data that agrees with Newtons laws on
the conservation of momentum. However, there is always going to be differences between
expected values and actual data values. The momentum before the collision and after the
collision was calculated in the Data and Calculations section. With the momentum before the
collision (this variable is represented by (! ) and the momentum after the collision (this variable
is represented by ! ), the percent difference or the beginning, middle, and end data points can
be calculated with the equation below.
Percent difference of the beginning =

!! !!!
!! !!!

100 =

.!"#$!.!"#$
.!"#$!.!"#$
!

Percent difference of the middle =

!! !!!
!! !!!

100 =

.!"#!$!.!"#$

Percent difference of the end =

!! !!!
!! !!!

100 =

..!"#!$!.!"#$
!

.!"#"!.!"#$
.!"#"!.!"#$
!

100 = 29.93%

100 = 41.75%

100 = 48.27%

The single largest error is in the trajectory of the ball through the photo-gate sensor.
Since the error for the aiming of the ball can only produce a larger velocity, the error will only be
applicable in one direction. Therefor the error in radius can be calculated using diameter of the
ball, which is .0295m and the worst probable uncertainty value for the center placement of the
ball, which is .003m based on the eyeballed measurement. The difference in radius given the
worst center placement can be calculated as follows:
(! = worst possible radius, r = radius, x = uncertainty in placement of ball)
! = ! ! = (. 01475! . 003! ) = .0144416m
In addition, the percent uncertainty of the radius can be calculated by the formula
below where ! = radius percentage uncertainty and ! = worst possible radius
! =

!!!!
!!!!
!

100 =

.!"#$%!.!"###"$
.!"#$%!.!"###"$
!

100 = 2.11%

With that diameter uncertainty, the error will be zero and the calculated value will be
equal to the theoretical value. I cannot give a definite uncertainty for this measurement, as the
uncertainty is a systematic error due to the way the measurement syste was set up. However, a
percentage error of 50% will allow for the most error that we expect due to the precision of the
equipment and of our placement of the equipment.
To calculate the overall error in the momentum, we use the error propagation formula
below for the beginning, middle, and end:
=

! = percent difference of momentum,
! = momentum before the collision
! = momentum after collision
! =

100
0

5

!"#$%%$%# =

!"##$% =

. 2860.0015

+ . 71998.001

+ .2059.00005

= .0008382

= .002186

. 0008382
! =
100 = .2030%
0 . 4129

. 2234.0015

+ . 71998.003
! =

.002186
.4129

+ .16084.00005

100 = .5294%

!"# =

. 1494.0015

+ . 71998.005
! =

.003607
.4129

+ .1076.00005

= .003607

100 = .8736%

Ranking of Error

Cause of Error

Error Type

1st

Photo-gate Sensor placement

Systematic

2nd

Diameter of Ball

Random

3rd

Error in Velocity

4th

1.69%

Random

.0295
.0005m
NA

CBR Error

Random

NA

1%

5th

Mass of Ball

Random

.149%

7th

Mass of Cart and Ball catcher

Random

8th

Mass of system

Random

.0672
.0001kg
.65278
.0001kg
.71998
.00015kg

Numeric
Percent Error
Error
.0144416m 2.11%

1%

.015%
.021%

6

IV. Results and Conclusion

The purpose of the lab was to prove the Law of Conservation of Momentum. To do this, we

measured the initial momentum of a projectile fired at a cart and then measured the
momentum of the cart after the collision. To prove the Law the momentums would have to be
equal. To calculate the momentum we measured the masses of the ball and of the cart (plus the
ball) and used mechanical devices to measure their velocities. We used a photogate sensor to
measure the velocity of the ball and then a CBR to graph the velocity of the cart over the time it
was moving toward the CBR device. By taking three sample points on the velocity graph we
found three points to test the momentum and see if it was conserved throughout the
experiment. The Results are as follows:
Initial Momentum of the ball: 0.4129 kgm/s
Momentum of cart (beginning): 0.3054.0008382
Momentum of cart (middle): 0.27028.002186
Momentum of cart (end): 0.2585.003607

pbeginning (kgm/s)
.3054
.304562

0.2

0.225

0.25

0.275

.4129

.306238

0.3

0.325

0.35

0.375

0.4

0.425

0.45

pmiddle (kgm/s)
.27028
.268094

0.2

0.225

0.25

.4129

.272466

0.275

0.3

0.325

0.35

0.375

0.4

0.425

0.45

pend (kgm/s)

.2585

.4129
.254893

0.2

0.225

.262107

0.25

0.275

0.3

0.325

0.35

0.375

0.4

0.425

0.45

Judging by our number lines our results did not overlap with the initial momentum. This means

that momentum was not conserved.

This disproves the hypothesis, but can be explained by issues in the lab such as friction and the

Styrofoam on the ball catcher absorbing energy impact of the collision. These would both explain a
decrease in momentum across the system. The inaccuracy is most likely a result of this natural problem
in the experiment and not our procedure. Our procedure and execution were sound, and should have
yielded the desired results in a frictionless environment.

Observing the increasing difference between the momentums after the collision with the initial

momentum points we can see the effects of friction on our velocity and see how easily it could have
been a major factor in our loss of momentum. The lost momentum increased from 29.93%, to 41.75%,
and further to 448.27%, showing that as the cart moved friction had more opportunity to change the
results and did so. Also, by observing the immediate velocity of the system we can see how much of the
momentum went into overcoming static friction and to compressing the foam catcher and was absorbed
there instead of being transferred into momentum of the system.

Overall, we can feel confident in our procedure and in lab performance. We all got specific jobs

and communicated effectively to collect data quickly. Any errors in our results can be generally be
explained by natural errors like friction and the absorbance of the catcher. We did not do any parts of
the experiment wrong. Given another opportunity at the lab we would reduce friction and the
absorbance of the catcher to remove these things lowering the momentum of the collision. Additionally,
we could check that our launcher was aligned with the track and cart for optimum energy and
momentum transfer.

8

References
Ellis, Steven L. "Appendix H: Standard Cover Sheet." University of Kentucky Department of

Physics and Astronomy, 10 Jan. 2010. Web. 22 Feb. 2015.

Ellis, Steven L. "Appendix D: Propagation of Errors." University of Kentucky Department of Physics and
Astronomy, 2011. Web. 5 Sept. 2011.
<http://www.pa.uky.edu/~ellis/Instr_Labs/ApdxPropErrVer1.pdf>.
Ellis, Steven L. "Appendix E: Measuring Tools." University of Kentucky Department of Physics and

Astronomy, 2011. Web. 5 Sept. 2011. <http://www.pa.uky.edu/~ellis/Instr_Labs/Apdx_Tls.pdf>.