PHYSICAL SCIENCE 100 Laboratory
Conservation of Momentum – Momentum Transfer
Name ____________________________
Date _____________________________
Table Number _____________________
Group Members________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
Purpose:
To investigate the principle of conservation of linear momentum and the concept of momentum transfer
Required Equipment and Supplies:
Two Yardsticks – Tape – Six steel balls
Introduction:
Linear momentum is defined as the product of the mass and the velocity of an object, p = mv, where v is the
instantaneous velocity of the object. The total linear momentum of an isolated system remains the same if there
is no external unbalanced force acting on the system. Total final momentum = initial momentum.
Objective:
To demonstrate Conservation of Momentum by observing that:
1. momentum can transfer from one object to another.
2. momentum can pass from one object, through a second, into a third.
3. the total momentum in the system is constant
Procedure:
1.
Tape the two yardsticks to a tabletop so they are parallel and about ¼ to ½ inch apart (depending on the
size of the steel balls).
2.
Put 2 steel balls in the middle of the sticks (our “track”) a few inches apart.
3.
Flick one ball so that it rolls and hits the other one. Observe and note what happens.
4.
Now put two balls on the track so they touch, and a third several inches away. Flick the single ball into the
other two. Observe and note what happens.
5.
Try other combinations: two balls into three stationary balls; three into three, etc. Observe and note what
happens.
Conclusion:
Explain what you observed in terms of Conservation of Momentum.
Note:
When rolling one ball into one ball, the first ball does not stop dead still but will continue to roll some. Can you
explain why? Try to do so.