MOMENTUM

INTRODUCTION

This laboratory explores the concepts of momentum and conservation of momentum. Existing theory asserts that
momentum is conserved. In the first part of this two-part laboratory you will explore qualitatively the
conservation of momentum. In the second part you will calculate the momentum before a collision and the
momentum after a collision of a marble and another marble. These collisions will be run for three pairs of
marbles, each pair will be similar in mass.

Terminology: Large, shooter marbles are called taws. Small marbles are called marbles. marbles come in
different sizes. What do you call marbles? What do you call shooter and player marbles? "Loosing" means "to
let loose" as in "to release." Loosing is not the same as "losing" your marbles. "Losing" means to become
misplaced, to become lost. Do not lose your marbles, loose them.

OBJECTIVE

-To define the momentum

MATERIALS

• marbles
• rulers
• stopwatch
• wood block or other support
• tape

PHYSICS

• Momentum is the mass (grams) multiplied by the velocity (cm/s). The letter P is used for momemtum, m is
used for mass, and v is used for velocity (speed).
• P⇀ = m v⇀
• Conservation means "stays the same." Usually this means, "the momentum after an event is the same as the
momentum before an event." For this lab the "event" is a collision between marbles.
• duck is the term for a small marble.
• taw is the term for a large marble.
PROCEDURES
1.
2. Release one marble. How many marbles are ejected ("kicked out") from the group?
3. Release two marbles. How many marbles are ejected from the group?
4. Repeat for three, four, five... marbles.
5. How is the number in related to the number out?
6. Release one marble from half-way up the ramp. Is the inbound marble fast or slow? Is the ejected
marble fast or slow?
7. Send a marble in at high speed. Is the ejected marble fast or slow?
8. How is the speed (velocity) in related to the speed (velocity) out?

OBSERVATION

CONCLUSION
 Measuring static electricity

OBJECTIVE:
This experiment was performed to investigate the amount of static electricity in various materials. The
experiment was done on hair, polyester, carpet, cotton, nylon and a ceramic tile, using a rubber balloon.

HYPOTHESIS:
Human hair will have the highest amount of static electricity.

INTRODUCTION

Static electricity is created when electric charges accumulate on the surface of a body. These electric charges will
remain on the surface until they are discharged by contact with another surface.

All materials consist of atoms. These atoms have a nucleus containing neutrons and protons while the electrons
are positioned outside the nucleus. The ability of an object to hold on to its electron or to release it, is determined
by the object’s position in the triboelectric series.

When a certain matter is able to release its electron easily, it will become positively charged and fall on the
positive side of the triboelectric series. On the other hand, if the matter captures electrons easily, it will become
negatively charged and fall on the negative side of the triboelectric series.

Static charges are easily created by rubbing two insulating materials together. Friction between the two materials
helps to generate static electricity. Through the rubbing process, electrons are transferred from the surface that
releases electrons easily, to the surface captures electrons easily.

Materials
The materials required for this science fair project:
- 1 balloon
- 1 copper plate 200mm x 300mm
- 1 ground connection
- 1 jumper wire with crocodile clips at both ends
- Human hair
- 1 small piece of polyester cloth
- 1 carpet
- 1 small piece of cotton cloth
- 1 small piece of nylon cloth
- 1 ceramic tile
- A flat tray
- 1 ruler
- 1 sheet of paper
- 1 paper knife
Procedure
1. For this experiment, the independent variable is the type of material tested. The dependent variable is the
number of pieces of paper picked up by the balloon. This is determined by simply counting the number of
pieces. The constants (control variables) are the size of the balloon, the number of times the balloon is rubbed
on the material tested and the weight of the paper bits.

2. The copper plate is connected to the ground connection using the jumper wire.

3. The sheet of paper is cut into 200 small pieces measuring 5mm x 5mm. The pieces are placed on the copper
plate in order to ensure that all residual static electricity is discharged from paper. After that, the paper pieces are
transferred to the flat tray.

4. The balloon is then inflated.The inflated balloon is also rolled across the copper plate to ensure that any
residual static electricity is properly discharged before the experiment begins.

5. To begin the experiment, rub the balloon on the hair 5 times, in the same direction. Place the balloon on the
cut pieces of paper. The paper pieces will be attracted to the balloon. Count the number of paper pieces sticking
to the balloon and record the quantity in the table given below. Discharge the paper pieces on the copper plate
and return them to the tray.

6. Discharge the balloon again by rolling it on the grounded copper plate.

7. Repeat procedures 5 and 6 by rubbing the balloon 5 times over the polyester cloth, carpet, cotton cloth, nylon
cloth and ceramic tile in turn. Count the number of paper pieces picked up by the balloon and record the findings
in the table below.
OBSERVATION

Materials used to rub against balloon Number of paper pieces sticking to balloon
Hair
Polyester cloth
Carpet
Cotton cloth
Nylon cloth
Ceramic Tile

1) Create chart below represents the results of our observations.

CONCLUSION