7.04L2 Quantitative Collision Lab
Name __________________________ Partners _________________________________________
Quantitative Collision Lab
Purpose: To experimentally verify that momentum is conserved during one-dimensional collisions.
Equipment needed:1 ramp with a plumb line, 1 c-clamp, 1 meter stick, 1 steel ball bearing, 1
Plastic marble, 2 sheets of paper to use as your target paper.
Procedure:
1. Set up your ramp as shown in the illustration shown above. Clamp your ramp to the table so
that it does not move during the experiment.
2. Tape you target paper to the floor. Using your plumb line, mark the "edge of the table" on
your target paper.
3. Measure the mass of your steel ball and your Plastic marble. Record your answers in the
table below.
4. Measure the height of your table and record it in the table below.
5. Release the steel ball 5 times from the top of the ramp and mark accurately where it hits the
floor. Catch the ball each time after it initially strikes the target paper. Make sure that you
record only one bounce per trial. When all 5 trials are done, circle your collision points and
label them:
 Part I: Steel Ball Alone
6. Carefully position the Plastic marble on the tip of the ruler Once again release the steel ball
from the top of the ramp. This time both the Plastic marble and the steel ball will strike the
paper. Make sure that you only record one bounce for each projectile. Repeat this process 5
times. Mark accurately where each ball hits the paper.
7. When all 5 trials are done, circle your two groups of collision points and label them:
 Part II: Steel Ball After Collision
 Part II: Plastic Ball After Collision
8. Using your meter stick, measure the range for each of 15 impact strikes on your target paper.
Record your answers in the appropriate columns in the data table provided below.
9. Calculate an average value for each group:
 Part I: Steel Ball Alone
 Part II: Steel Ball After Collision
 Part II: Plastic Marble After Collision
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7.04L2 Quantitative Collision Lab
Name __________________________ Partners _________________________________________
Data
Mass Data
Mass in Grams (g)
Mass in kg
(mass in grams/1000)
Steel Ball
Plastic Marble
Table Data and Final Vertical Velocity
Height of Table (m)
Initial vertical velocity (m/s)
Vertical Acceleration (m/s2)
9.8 m/s2
Final Vertical Velocity on impact (m/s)
(vf = 2ad )
Time In Air
2d
t=
a
Trial
Range Data for the Balls
Part 1
Part 2
Steel Ball Alone Steel Ball After
Plastic Marble After
1
2
3
4
5
Average
Note: To determine the average add the 5 measurements and divide by 5.
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7.04L2 Quantitative Collision Lab
Name __________________________ Partners _________________________________________
Horizontal Momentum Calculations
Horizontal
Mass (kg)
Average Range
Momentum
Steel Ball Alone
Steel Ball After
Plastic Marble
After
Total Momentum
of Plastic and
Steel After
Experimental Error:
Using the information calculated in the previous table, determine your experimental error by
calculating the percent difference between the total momentum for Part I and the total momentum
for Part II.
% Difference =
% Difference =
MomentumAfter  Momentumbefore
Momentumbefore
(__________)  (_________)
(_________)
In a short paragraph, write a summary of the lab. Include ideas on the conservation of momentum
and reasons that there may have been a percent difference.
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7.04L2 Quantitative Collision Lab
Name __________________________ Partners _________________________________________
Momentum Problems
1. A 0.25 kg ball rolling at 1.0 m/s rolls and overtakes a 0.3 kg ball rolling in the same direction at
0.5 m/s. The balls stick together on impact. What is the velocity of the two balls after the collision?
Before the Collision
After the Collision
Your Solution?
2. Amy is rolling down the hallway in the science chair at 2 m/s. If the total mass of the chair and
Amy is 45 kg, what would her momentum be?
3. How are impulse and momentum related? Explain.
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