Experiment 1: Collisions on Air
Table Lab Report
Performed: January 19th 2026, 2pm, room 1604
Report by: Haydin Socha
Lab partner: Owen Beckett
24.01.2026.
ENPH 1231 Section 01
Student number: 000382509
Purpose
●​ Assess the Conservation of Momentum
By examining the vector sum of Puck A and Puck B's individual momenta in both the x
and y directions, and see if the total momentum stays constant in the x and y planes.
●​ Examine Center of Mass
To trace the trajectory of the system's center of mass (CoM) and confirm that, regardless
of the internal magnetic forces operating between the pucks, its velocity stays constant
during the interaction.
Hypothesis
I think that the two-puck system's total linear momentum will be preserved during the
experiment as long as there are no significant external horizontal pressures acting on it.
I think that we will not lose a significant amount of energy because the air table
generates a nearly frictionless air, the only significant forces at work during the collision
are the intrinsic magnetic repulsions between the pucks.
Manipulated Variables:
●​ The initial velocities and collision angle
Controlled Variables:
●​ Mass of the Pucks
●​ Spark Timer Frequency
●​ Air Pressure
●​ Surface Level of table
Responding Variables:
●​ Final velocities and angles of deflection
●​ Momentum and Kinetic Energy
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MATERIALS AND PROCEDURE:
Materials
●​ Equipment used:
●​ Two air pucks
●​ Foot pedal
●​ Sheet of paper
●​ Air table
●​ Pencil and paper to collect data
●​ Large (50 cm x 50 cm) carbon paper
●​ Ruler, Protractor, Pencil
●​ Power cables and outlets
●​ Weight scale for pucks
●​ Computer with spreadsheet software
Safety Precautions
●​ Safety precautions!
●​ Tied long hair back
●​ Didn’t wear baggy clothes
●​ Used closed toe shoes
●​ Kept a tidy workspace
●​ Did not touch the spark air table while it was running
PROCEDURE
●​ Set Up and prep
A sheet of paper was put on the air table surface. Then the air supply was initiated at a
low pressure to create a near-frictionless cushion for the pucks. Multiple practice
launches were conducted without the spark on, to understand the pucks' trajectories and
ensure that the collision would be symmetrical.
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●​ Data collection
Using two people, one managed the launch of the pucks while the other operated the foot
pedal for the spark timer. The pucks were launched to create a symmetrical "X" pattern,
ensuring a clear path of approach and separation for data analysis. The spark timer was
set to 20 Hz (0.05 s intervals).
●​ Mapping and Measurement
The paper was removed and flipped to reveal the marks. The two paths for each puck
path were designated as A and B and all dots were numbered chronologically. We then
connected the dots of puck A with its corresponding dot for puck B. We then measured
the angles of puck A and puck B on all four corners then measured the angle of the line
through the middle as well.
●​ Velocity and Data Compilation
Our displacements were measured across two-intervals of the dots, when we got to dot
19 and 20, we used the dots that were on our page but not in our data to get the
measurements . All measured distances, angles, and masses were compiled into google
sheets to help us with the many calculations of x and y momentum components and total
system kinetic energy.
Figure 0 - lab measurements
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OBSERVATIONS
Quantitative Observations
After measuring both pucks' distances, timings, and direction angles, velocities were
calculated, put into a notebook, and then later put into a google sheet for additional
calculations. Each puck's momentum and kinetic energy (KE) values were computed in
the X and Y directions based on the observed velocities and recorded puck masses. To see
the overall behavior of the two puck collisions, momentum and center of mass velocity
were also calculated. Figures 1-3 below (under the analysis part) contain all of the
measured and computed data.
Qualitative Observations
Pucks A and B both slid easily across the air table during the experiment, showing no
signs of friction. The pucks were not struck during impact, and there was no loss of
speed to the human eye, making the collision a clean “X” on the paper. Changes in puck
trajectories were noted following the collision, and the majority of the speed was
preserved because there were few outside forces, which could indicate an inelastic
outcome.
Velocity
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-​
Figure 1 Calculated Velocities for Puck A, Puck B and the Center of mass velocity
Momentum
px = cos(v)(mpuck ) py=sin(v)(mpuck)
-​
Figure 2 Calculated momentums for puck A and puck B through time intervals
using the above equations.
Kinetic Energy
Ek = (½)mpuckv2
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-​
Figure 3 Calculated KE for Puck A, Puck B, and the Total Kinetic Energy.
-​
Figure 4 Graph of calculated kinetic energy values at point intervals (1 point
interval = 0.05 s).
UNCERTAINTY AND IMPROVEMENTS
Errors in velocity measurement, small friction forces, air resistance on the air table, puck
spinning, and misalignment during the impact are the causes of small deviations from
the predicted momentum and kinetic energy conservation. Increasing the number of
trials, enhancing puck alignment during trials, and utilizing more frictionless air tables
with reduced air resistance might all increase accuracy.
CONCLUSION
The purpose of this experiment was to see if momentum and kinetic energy are
conserved when two pucks collide on an air table. According to the experimental results,
the two-puck system's total momentum decreased by 12.5%, indicating that the collision
was inelastic. The system did not act as an isolated system shown by this loss of
momentum. The system's total kinetic energy dropped by 18%, according to the kinetic
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energy analysis, which was similar. These momentum and Kinetic Energy losses are not
optimal for elastic systems. They can be attributed to air resistance, puck rotation,
residual friction, and experimental error. Overall, the findings show that although the
air table lessens external pressures like friction and air effects influenced the collision
experiment, making this collision inelastic and my hypothesis incorrect, as i said that all
energy would be close to conserved as i thought the system was isolated therefor we
wouldnt lose that much energy, but significant amounts of energy were lost allowing me
to learn from my wrong hypothesis.
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