Conceptual Physics
Mr. Will/Mr. Scillia
Group Members _______________________________________Date ______________
Impulse and Momentum Lab
Title:
Being Impulsive about Momentum Change
Purpose:
To compare the impulse experienced by an object to the change in
momentum of the object
Equipment: 1. Cart and track
2. Pasco photogates and Data Studio software
3. Pasco Force Probe and Data Studio software
4. Pulley and string
5. Mass Set
Procedure:
1. Position the track so that it is at an angle with a photogate positioned 15
cm from the end of the ramp.
2. Find the velocity of the cart at 15 cm above the end of the ramp by
measuring the length of the cart and dividing that number by the time
in the gate value.
Length of the cart: ___________ m
Time in the Gate: ____________ s
Velocity of the cart: ___________ m/s
3. Set up Data Studio to collect Force values using the Pasco Force probe.
4. Connect the pulley to the end of the table and run string from one end
of the cart, with the Force probe attached to it, to a 0.2 kg mass.
5. Zero out the force probe so that it no longer registers the force due to
the mass hanging from the pulley.
6. When ready let the cart roll from the same height as before and let the
cart hit your hand at 15 cm above the end of the track (where you got its
velocity before).
7. Record the value of the Force that stops the cart and the time that it
took for that force to stop the cart.
Force on the cart: ____________ N
Time it took the cart to stop: __________ s
8. Calculate the initial and final momentum of the cart.
9. Calculate the impulse on the cart.
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Conceptual Physics
Mr. Will/Mr. Scillia
Calculations: Use the measured data to calculate the following values. SHOW ALL
WORK IN THE SPACE BELOW
Initial Momentum: pi = mvi
Final Momentum: pf = mvf
Impulse: I = F t
Change in Momentum: pf - pi
Conclusions: Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper and staple to
this one.
1. What was your value for the impulse on the cart?
2. What was your value for the change in momentum on the cart?
3. What is the relationship between impulse on an object and the change
in that object’s momentum when a force is applied?
4. Are your values perfect? Explain why not?
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