Name______________
Date_______________
Physics Period_______
Momentum Machines
Your mission should you choose to accept:
 Build an vehicle that can attain a high momentum (p=mv)
This is not just any vehicle you are building however. This vehicle should be built for
momentum! That means it should be able to travel at high velocities and the vehicle
should have a high mass.
There are rules to building this vehicle:
 You must work in a group of two or three.
 Your materials can only be obtained from the classroom or what you have in your
backpack.
 Your vehicle must be cool looking and have a name.
 Your vehicle must not lose any parts or break.
 Your vehicle must be self-propelled or gravity propelled
 Your vehicle must travel at least 5 meters if self-propelled or gravity propelled.
 You can measure momentum using instantaneous velocity at any point or average
velocity, the choice is yours, choose wisely.
 You must measure momentum in kg∙m/s. (If you measure the mass in g make sure
you convert!)
 Your group can compete in more than one category.
 If you break any rule your vehicle is disqualified from consideration for extra
credit.
There are two categories of momentum machines: self-propelled or gravity propelled.
The self-propelled category could involve rubber bands, springs, etc. The gravity
propelled category will be launched down a ramp.
The winner of each category will receive fifteen extra credit points!
You will turn in a lab report when we are done with the project. See page 2 for the
template.
If a section is highlighted, it needs your attention. Do not turn in your lab with
anything highlighted!
Names
1. Title-Momentum Machines
2. Purpose-The purpose of this lab is to measure velocity, measure mass, and calculate
momentum while determining the momentum machine champion.
Questions:
a. Who can build the best momentum machine in each category?
b. What category will result in the highest average momentum?
c. What factors affect an objects momentum?
3. Hypothesis (predictions)
a. I predict that…
b. I predict that…
c. I predict that…
4. Procedure
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
5. Data Table-Complete the data tables.
Period 1-2008
Vehicle Vehicle Vehicle
Name
Mass
Velocity
(kg)
(m/s)
Wild
Cherry
8.18
2.24
Floam
Mobile
.243
1.8
How was velocity
measured? (average over
total distance, average over
1 m, etc)
Average velocity over the
first 1.84 m. Gravity
propelled.
Average velocity over the
whole 5 m. Gravity
Vehicle
Momentum
(kg∙m/s)
18.32
.437
Momentum
Vectors (write
in a vector
key)
Butterfly .0054
10.98
Tablita
3.6
3.42
Big Jeff
1.5
1.66
Crasher
.018
14.7
Period 2 2008
Vehicle
Vehicle
Name
Mass
(kg)
Vehicle
Velocity
(m/s)
Jellyfish
3.3
2.73
Terminator 4.7
2.7
Elby
1.36
3.93
Heifer
Mobile
Hot
Wheels
1.13
1.85
0.075
1.64
propelled.
Average velocity over 5 m.
Human propelled.
Average velocity over 2.5m.
Gravity Propelled.
Average velocity over 3m.
Gravity Propelled.
Average velocity over 5 m.
Self propelled.
Overall Average Momentum
How was velocity
measured? (average over
total distance, average over
1 m, etc)
Average Velocity over 7m.
Gravity Propelled
Average Velocity over 5m
gravity propelled
Average velocity over 5 m.
Gravity propelled
Average velocity over 5m,
gravity propelled.
Average velocity over 3m.
Gravity propelled.
0.0592
12.31
2.49
1.5876
Vehicle
Momentum
(kg∙m/s)
Momentum
Vectors (write
in a vector
key)
9.009
13.05
5.34
2.1
0.123
Overall Average Momentum
Observations-Make your own observations about the velocity (average vs instantaneous)
of the vehicle and way in which the vehicle traveled. Make sure you record in bullet
points or in a table.
6. Results (graph here) Click on insert, picture, and chart. Format the cells to reflect the
above data. In your graph(s) make sure you show the data from your tables including the
overall average momentum. Do not forget to include a graph title and to label your axes.
7. Conclusion-FOLLOW THE RERUN FORMAT and address the questions. When
you are finished, post your lab on your UNIT 3 webpage. Also, remember to post your
conclusion on nicenet. No paper needed!