PHYSICS DEPARTMENT, MCBU, MANİSA, 2018

PHYS 1301

PHYSICS-I
LABORATORY MANUAL

CONTENTS
EXPERIMENT 1: One-Dimensional Motion (Uniformly Linear Motion) ……….2

EXPERIMENT 2: Projectile Motion………………………………………………6

EXPERIMENT 3: Dynamic………………………………………………………15

EXPERIMENT 4: Momentum and Collision…………………………………….20



EXPERIMENT 1: ONE-DIMENSIONAL MOTION (UNIFORMLY LINEAR

MOTION)

OBJECTIVE: Study of one-dimensional rectilinear motion.

THEORY

The motion of an object which moves with a constant velocity along a line is called rectilinear
motion. If the velocity of an object is constant, then its acceleration is zero. When the
acceleration on above equations is taken to be as a=0, the formula for uniform, linear motion
is obtained
𝒙 = 𝒙𝟎 + 𝒗𝟎 𝒕 (1.12)

If we want to know the distance traveled by an object, we can write this formula in terms of
distance s as follows

𝒔 = 𝒙 − 𝒙𝟎 = 𝒗𝒕 (1.13)

Figure 1.4: Variation of the position, velocity and acceleration of a disc in a rectilinear motion

PROCEDURE
ü Level the air table off.
ü Place the carbon and measurement paper on to the surface of the air table.
ü Place one of the pucks on top edge of the air table in order to use it for measuring and
place the other puck to the top corner so that it doesn’t disturb the other’s motion and
then fix it at that place by a plastic fixer.
ü Run the air pump.
ü Switch on the spark timer and choose a value either 40 or 60 or 80 ms.
ü Press the red spark button in synchronization with the projectile motion that you have
started with the launcher. Keep the button pressed until the end of the motion.
ü Switch off the air pump and spark timer to see your measurement results.

ü Pull out the paper on the bottom of the air puck and observe the burn points.
ü At least one of your measurements should be confirmed by the laboratory supervisior.
ü On the carbon paper there should be lots of burn points on the same line. While
choosing the starting point of your measurement you don’t need to take the first burn
point on the paper as the starting point of your measurement. Since the puck has a
small acceleration just before set in motion.
ü Select a few more points from the reference point. Measure the distance between
points and then record the time value.

CALCULATIONS

1. Record the ∆x and ∆t values to the table below.

∆xi(cm) ∆ti(s)
1
2
3
4
5

2. Plot x–t graph according to the table above. If 𝑥! = 0 , the equation (1.12) becomes
𝒙 = 𝒗𝟎 𝒕
where,
𝒗𝟎 = 𝒙 𝒕
this value gives the slope of x–t graph and it is experimental velocity.

3. Calculate velocity value belong to the motion using following equation

𝒙 = 𝒗𝟎 𝒕

4. Calculate the error for the result you obtained by using;

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 − 𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒍
% 𝑬𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓 = ×𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍

QUESTIONS

1. Is it possible to have a case in which the acceleration of an object is zero if its velocity is
not zero? Explain.

2. Is the acceleration of an object different from zero if its velocity is zero? Explain.

3. An automobile moving with a speed of 75km/h is getting slow down by braking and its
speed getting fall down to 36 km/h in 5 seconds.

a) What is the constant acceleration of an automobile?

b) How much distance does an automobile travel during this time?

c) What is time passed to stop an automobile exactly from the beginning of the motion?

EXPERIMENT 2: PROJECTILE MOTION

OBJECTIVE: Study of a projectile motion on an inclined plane.

THEORY

Projectile motion of an object is simple to analyze if we make two assumptions: (1) the free-
fall acceleration is constant over the range of motion and is directed downward, and (2) the
effect of air resistance is negligible. With these assumptions, we find that the path of a
projectile, which we call its trajectory, is always a parabola as shown in Active Figure 2.1.
We use these assumptions throughout this experiment.

Figure 2.1: The parabolic path of a projectile that leaves the origin with a velocity v! . The velocity vector v
changes with time in both magnitude and direction. This change is the result of acceleration a = g in the negative
y direction.

The expression for the position vector of the projectile as a function of time, with its
acceleration being that due to gravity, 𝒂 = 𝒈.

𝟏
𝒓𝒔 = 𝒓𝒊 + 𝒗𝒊 𝒕 + 𝒈𝒕𝟐 (2.1)
𝟐

where the initial x and y components of the velocity of the projectile are

𝒗𝒙𝒊 = 𝒗𝒊 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜽𝒊 𝒗𝒚𝒊 = 𝒗𝒊 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽𝒊 (2.2)

For a projectile launched from the origin, so that r! = 0. The final position of a particle can be
considered to be the superposition of its initial position r! ; the term v! t, which is its
!
displacement if no acceleration were present; and the term !
gt ! that arises from its
acceleration due to gravity. In other words, if there were no gravitational acceleration, the
particle would continue to move along a straight path in the direction of v! . Therefore, the
!
vertical distance ! gt ! through which the particle “falls” off the straight-line path is the same
distance that an object dropped from rest would fall during the same time interval.

Two-dimensional motion with constant acceleration can be analyzed as a combination of two

independent motions in the x and y directions, with accelerations a! and a! . Projectile motion
can also be handled in this way, with zero acceleration in the x direction and a constant
acceleration in the y direction, a! = −g. Therefore, when analyzing projectile motion, model
it to be the superposition of two motions: (1) motion of a particle under constant velocity in
the horizontal direction and (2) motion of a particle under constant acceleration (free fall) in
the vertical direction. The horizontal and vertical components of a projectile’s motion are
completely independent of each other and can be handled separately, with time t as the
common variable for both components.

HORIZONTAL RANGE AND MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF A PROJECTILE

Let us assume a projectile is launched from the origin at t ! = 0 with a positive v!" component
as shown in Figure 2.2 and returns to the same horizontal level.

Figure 2.2: A projectile launched over a flat surface from the origin at t ! = 0 with an initial velocity v! . The
maximum height of the projectile is h, and the horizontal range is R. At , the peak of the trajectory, the particle
has coordinates (R/2, h).

Two points in this motion are especially interesting to analyze: the peak point A, which has
Cartesian coordinates (R/2, h), and the point B, which has coordinates (R, 0). The distance R
is called the horizontal range of the projectile, and the distance h is its maximum height. Let
us find h and R mathematically in terms of v! , θ! , and g.
We can determine h by noting that at the peak v!" = 0. Therefore:

𝒗𝒚𝒇 = 𝒗𝒚𝒊 + 𝒂𝒚 𝒕

𝟎 = 𝒗𝒊 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽𝒊 − 𝒈𝒕𝑨

𝒗𝒊 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽𝒊
𝒕𝑨 = 𝒈
(2.3)

Substituting this expression for t ! into the y component of Equation 2.1 and replacing y = y!
with h, we obtain an expression for h in terms of the magnitude and direction of the initial
velocity vector:

𝟐
𝒗𝒊 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽𝒊 𝟏 𝒗𝒊 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽𝒊
𝒉 = 𝒗𝒊 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽𝒊 − 𝒈
𝒈 𝟐 𝒈

𝒗𝟐𝒊 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝟐 𝜽𝒊
𝒉=
𝟐𝒈
(2.4)

The range R is the horizontal position of the projectile at a time that is twice the time at which
it reaches its peak, that is, at time t ! = 2t ! . Using the x component of Equation 2.1, noting
that v!" = v!" = v! cosθ! , and setting x! = R at t = 2t ! , we find that

𝑹 = 𝒗𝒙𝒊 𝒕𝑩 = 𝒗𝒊 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜽𝒊 𝟐𝒕𝑨

𝟐𝒗𝒊 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽𝒊 𝟐𝒗𝟐𝒊 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽𝒊 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜽𝒊

𝑹 = 𝒗𝒊 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜽𝒊 =
𝒈 𝒈

Using the identity sin2θ = 2sinθcosθ, we can write R in the more compact form
𝒗𝟐𝒊 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝟐𝜽𝒊
𝑹=
𝒈
(2.5)

INCLINED PLANE

The external forces exerted on a block lying on a frictionless incline plane is shown in Figure
2.3.

Figure 2.3: The external forces exerted on a block lying on a frictionless incline plane.

The net force acting on the block in y direction, according to the Newton’s law is:

𝑭𝒚 = 𝒎𝒂𝒚 = 𝒎𝒈𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜶 𝒚

Hence the net acceleration of the block in y direction is:

𝒂𝒚 = 𝒈𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜶 (2.6)

When the projectile motion is studies on an inclined plane, the gravitational acceleration g in
the Equations 2.1 to 2.5 must be replaced by gsinα. That is:

𝒗𝒊 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽𝒊
𝒕𝑨 = 𝒈𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜶
(2.7)

𝒗𝟐𝒊 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝟐 𝜽𝒊
𝒉= 𝟐𝒈𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜶
(2.8)

𝒗𝟐𝒊 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝟐𝜽𝒊
𝑹= 𝒈𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜶
(2.9)

PROCEDURE

Do not touch the metal parts of the table during the measurements with spark.
Never switch on the spark if one or two pucks are out of table.
Do not keep one of the pucks at your hand when spark is on.
Otherwise you may get an harmless but disturbing electric shock.

ü Incline the air table as shown in Figure 2.4 with the help of a wooden block.

Figure 2.4: Schematic drawing of an inclined air table

ü Measure the lengths h1, h2 and L of the inclined table. Write the results to the table
below.
ü Place the carbon and measurement paper to the air table.
ü Place the air puck launcher to the BOTTOM RIGHT corner of the air table with an
angle you desire. Place the rubber band to the second position on the launcher.
ü Place one of the air puck to the launcher and fix the other puck to the top corner with
the help of a plastic fixer in such a way that it doesn’t block the motion of the other.
(Figure 2.5).

Figure 2.5: Projectile method.

ü Run the air pump and try projectile motion few times until you get enough experience.
ü Switch on the spark timer and choose a value (40,60 or 80 ms).
ü Press the red spark button in synchronization with the projectile motion that you have
started with the launcher. Keep the button pressed until the end of the motion.
ü Switch off the air pump and spark timer to see your measurement results.
ü The laboratory supervisior should confirm your chosen measurement when you are
sure about your measurement.

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ü Draw the x and y coordinate projections as shown in Figure 2.6. Take the second
measurement point after starting point since the starting point can be problematic and
place the corner of your coordinate axes to this point. Measure ℎ!"# and 𝑅 values and
record it to the table below.

Figure 2.6: Measurement of the projectile motion data.

ü Determine 𝑡 and 𝑡! flight times by counting the points on projectile motion.

ü Measure the lengths 𝑟!" , 𝑦!" , 𝑟!" , 𝑦!" in order to determine the starting (𝜃! ) and the
end (𝜃! ) angles as shown in figure 2.7. Use more points as much as possible in such a
way that the linearity of the line is not violated. Extend the line in order to increase the
precision of the measurement 𝑟!" , 𝑟!" .

Figure 2.7: Angle measurement of the initial and final velocities.

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CALCULATIONS

1. Determine the angles 𝜃! and 𝜃! with the help of equations given below.
𝒚𝜽
𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽 =
𝒓𝜽
(2.10)
2. Determine the inclination angle of the air table by using the equation below.
𝒉𝟐 !𝒉𝟏
𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜶 =
𝑳
(2.11)

3. Use “gsinα” instead of “g” in all projectile motion equations since the projectile
motion is carried out with an inclined air table.

Figure 2.8: A sample projectile motion data view.

4. Take the average of the equal distances on x axes between the points.
5. Calculate the x component of the initial velocity 𝑣!" by using the equation below:
𝒙
𝒗𝒙𝒊 = 𝒕
(2.11)

where T is the multiplication of the number of points N on paper. This gives us the
flight time experimentally.
𝒗𝒙𝒊 𝒗𝒙𝒊 𝒓𝒔𝜽
6. Calculate the initial velocity experimentally by using the equation 𝒗𝒔𝒊 = 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽 = 𝒚𝒔𝜽
.
𝒔

Calculate also the end velocity 𝑣!" using the same equation.
7. Can 𝜽𝒔 and 𝜽𝒆 angles be different from each other? Make comments on the
corresponding reasons and the results.
8. Calculate the experimental value of the time to reach maximum height by using
number of points N:
𝑵
𝒕𝑨 =
𝟐
𝑻 (2.12)
9. Calculate the theoretical value of the time to reach maximum height by using the
equation (2.7).
10. Calculate the time t = 2tA to reach the range R experimentally.
11. Measure the experimental value of the range Rexp by using a ruler. Calculate the same
value theoretically by using the Equation 2.9.

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12. Measure the experimental value of the maximum height by using a ruler. Calculate the
same value theoretically by using the Equation 2.8.
13. Write your results to the corresponding table below and make the error calculation for
each result you obtained by using;
𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍! 𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒍
% 𝑬𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓 = 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍
×𝟏𝟎𝟎 (2.14)

MEASUREMENTS TABLE
Measured Values
Time (t) (ms)
𝒉𝟏 (cm)
𝒉𝟐 (cm)
𝑳 (cm)
𝒓𝒔𝜽 (cm)
𝒚𝒔𝜽 (cm)
𝒓𝒆𝜽 (cm)
𝒚𝒆𝜽 (cm)
Time to reach maximum height (𝒕𝑨 ) (s)
Flight time t(s)
Range (R) (cm)
Maximum height (hmax) (cm)

RESULTS TABLE
𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 % Error
𝜽𝒔 ( 0 )
𝜽𝒆 ( 0 )
α ( 0 )
𝒗𝒔𝒊 (cm/s)
𝒗𝒆𝒊 (cm/s)
Time to reach maximum height (𝒕𝑨 ) (s)
Flight time t(s)
Range (R) (cm)
Maximum height (hmax) (cm)

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QUESTIONS

1. Which parameter remains constant for an object making a projectile motion ?

a. Magnitude of its velocity,
b. Acceleration,
c. Horizontal projection of its velocity,
d. Vertical projection of its velocity.
2. A ball hit by a soccer player has an initial velocity of 30 m/s and it makes 37o angle
with horizontal axes.
a. Write the equation of motion of the ball.
b. What is the position and velocity components of the ball at t=1s?
c. How long it takes to reach the maximum height?
d. What is the maximum height that ball reaches?
e. How far the ball goes before hitting the ground?
3. A ball is thrown away from the roof of a 33 m high building, with an angle of 53o with
horizontal and with an initial speed of 5 m/s. At ground, a children starts running
horizontally at the same time with a constant acceleration of 𝑎.
a. Write the equation of motion of the ball by choosing a coordinate system.
b. What is the flight time of the ball?
c. How far away from the building the ball goes?
d. What should be the acceleration 𝑎 of the children to be able to catch the ball before
hitting the ground?

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EXPERIMENT 3: DYNAMIC

OBJECTIVE: In this lab, we will explore the relationship between position, velocity
and acceleration. In this experiment, friction will be neglected. Constant (uniform)
acceleration will be investigated.

THEORY

Speed is just how fast something is moving. It is measured in how far

something moves in some time. Speed is given by the equation:

Speed= x/ t (3.1)
The symbol, ’∆’ indicates a change is some quantity such as position (’x’) in
this case. The unit of speed is always distance divided by time. We might measure
speed in miles/hour, meters/second etc. In this lab we will use meters/second (m/s).
Speed is how far something moves in some time. Obviously, this depends on the
time period we use. Things rarely move at constant speed. We measure the speed of
something over a very short time, we can talk about the instantaneous speed.
Instantaneous speed is like taking a snap shot of the speed. The average speed is what
we have in equation 2.1 for some time period that may not be very small.
Just as the position changing gives us velocity, when velocity changes we have an
acceleration. Acceleration is:

Acceleration= a = change in velocity / time interval = v/ t (3.2)

Acceleration has units of distance divided by time. For this lab, we will use
2 2
meter/second (m/s )
When we specify a speed and the direction, we are giving a velocity. Velocity is
a vector. Like all vectors it has magnitude (how much) and direction (which way).
Acceleration being the change in velocity is also a vector. In this lab, we will restrict
the motion to one dimension so the vector nature of velocity and acceleration are no
so important. However, you should remember that velocity and acceleration are
vectors.
If the acceleration is constant, there are relatively simple relationships between
position, velocity and acceleration in one dimension. If an object at time zero (t = 0)
is at the origin (x = 0), the the velocity and position are given by:

15


v(t) = v0 + a · t (3.3)

!
𝑥 𝑡 = 𝑣! . 𝑡 + ! 𝑎. 𝑡 ! (3.4.)

where a is the constant acceleration, t is the time and v0 is the initial velocity of the
object at time zero. For this experiment, we will have motion in one dimension with
zero initial velocity.
Next, we should define force. Force is simply a push or a pull. It can be from
gravity i.e. gravity pulls on a mass, a magnetic ’pull’ between a north and south
magnetic pole or simply you pushing a book across a table.

Newton’s 2nd law relates mass, acceleration and force. In words: The acceleration
of n object is directly proportional to the net force acting on the object, is in the direction of
the net force and is inversely proportional to the mass of the object.

F= m.a (3.5)

The units of force in the metric system are the newton.

There are several things we should notice about this statement. The equation for
New- ton’s 2nd law tells us force is a vector like velocity or acceleration. When you push
something, you push in a direction e.g, north or down, as well as some amount e.g. 10
nd
N. We can use Newton’s 2 law to figure out what a newton (N) is in terms of mass,
time and distance. Since force is mass times acceleration, the units of a newton can be

broken down to kg m/s2 . Finally, notice the statement of Newton’s 2nd law says ’net
force’. This means all the forces added together acting on an object. Since they are
vectors, we have to add all the forces vectors.
We will investigate Newton’s second law and constant acceleration with the air
table in the configuration shown in figure 1.2. The hanging mass, m, will pull the
puck across the table as it falls. The mass of the puck is mp. The string connecting
the hanging mass and the puck has a tension, T. We assume there is no friction
between the table and the puck.
The force on the puck is simply the tension (pull of the hanging mass).

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nd
Assuming no friction, Newton’s 2 law gives:
Force = T = mp.a (3.6.)

Figure 3.1. Equipments of experiment.

mp T

a
mg

Figure 3.2. The air table arrangement.

The forces on the hanging mass are T (upward) and the force of gravity, mg
(downward). ’g’ is the acceleration of gravity (9.81 m/s2 ). The acceleration of the
hanging mass is downward. Newton’s second law gives:

17


Force = T – m.g = m (-a) (3.7)

If we substitute equation 2.6 into equation 2.7 and solve for the acceleration we
have:

!.!
𝑎=! (3.8)
! !!

This equation shows that the acceleration is constant and proportional to the
acceleration of gravity through the ratio

PROCEDURE
Special Caution
• To avoid electrical shock, do not touch the pucks or air table while the spark
timer is on. Use an insulator such as a rolled up sheet of paper to push or hold the
puck.

The air table apparatus is shown in figure 2. The white box at the back of the table is
the spark unit. Two pucks are shown connected to the rubber hoses which supply the
air to float the puck.

Newton’s Second Law;

In this section of the procedure, the puck will be pulled across the table by a
hanging mass connected to the puck by a string over a pulley.

• Attach the pulley to the side of the table if it is not already attached.
Connect the string to the collar and the other end to the hanging mass. Place the
string over the pulley wheel.
• Using the unmarked side the the white paper, configure the free puck on several
folds of the corner of the paper so it will not move. Hold the puck connected to
the hanging mass at the far end of the table with the insulated tube. Press the
sparker pad and release the puck. The puck should have zero initial speed so the
puck should not be released until the sparker has started. Stop the spark timer
when the mass reaches the end of the table.

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• Turn off (for safety) the sparker power supply, remove both pucks, lift up the
paper sheet and turn it over to examine the sparker dots marking the puck
trajectory.

• Qualitatively describe how the dots are spaced on the paper.

• Measure the distance between the first sparker dot an another dot approximately
0.20 meters from the first dot. Count the number of time intervals (0.05 seconds
between dots) to determine the total time between the first dot and the dot where
you measure the distance. Using equation 2.4, calculate the acceleration
assuming v0 = 0.
• Using equation 2.8, calculate the acceleration of gravity. Calculate the percentage

error for your value with the standard value of 9.81 m/s2

QUESTIONS

• In the constant acceleration part of the experiment (Newton’s 2nd law), if the
initial velocity is not zero would the final result be serious effected?

• In the constant acceleration part of the experiment (Newton’s 2nd law) there
may be some friction between the puck and air table. Assuming the friction is
constant, would you still expect the acceleration to be constant? Would it change
the value of g you calculated?

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EXPERIMENT 4: MOMENTUM AND COLLISION

OBJECTIVE: For elastic collisions in an isolated system, examine the conservation of linear
momentum and kinetic energy.
THEORY

Linear momentum of an object "P", is the product of mass and velocity

𝑷 = 𝒎𝒗 (4.1)

Here we will talk about the momentum briefly from the linear momentum. However, only the
net external force when applied, we know that the speed of the object changed and this means
that the momentum change. This fact can be seen from Newton's second law. According to
Newton's second law for a constant mass of a body;

𝒅𝒗
𝑭𝒆𝒙𝒕 = 𝒎𝒂 = 𝒎 𝒅𝒕 (4.2)

When m is constant, this equation is written as follows:

𝒅(𝒎𝒗) 𝒅𝑷
𝑭𝒆𝒙𝒕 = 𝒅𝒕
=
𝒅𝒕
(4.3)

From the above equation, if an external force acts on an object, the object's momentum does
not protected. That is, momentum does not change with time. If 𝐹!"# = 0 then
𝒅𝑷
𝒅𝒕 = 𝟎 (4.4)

𝑷 = 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕 (4.5)
Here the momentum not change with time, the object always have the same momentum.
N- particle system consist of m1, m2,…….mN masses can be generalized based on the above
results. When we are dealing with a system of objects (m1, m2,…….mN), the total momentum
𝑃!"! of the system is the vector sum of the individual momentums:

20


𝑷𝒕𝒐𝒕 = 𝑷𝟏 + 𝑷𝟐 + ⋯ + 𝑷𝑵 (4.6)
Where are,

𝑷𝟏 = 𝒎𝟏 𝒗𝟏 , 𝐏𝟐 = 𝐦𝟐 𝐯𝟐 ,….. 𝒆𝒕𝒄. (4.7)

The sum in the equation (4.6) is a vector sum process. In this situation, if a generalized
equation (4.3);

𝒅𝑷𝒕𝒐𝒕 𝒅
𝑭𝒆𝒙𝒕 =
𝒅𝒕
=
𝒅𝒕
(𝑷𝟏 + 𝑷𝟐 + ⋯ + 𝑷𝑵 ) (4.8)

where Fext, the system comprised of the particles refers to the net external force. This external
force may be friction and gravity. Hence in the system formed by particles it does not have
any total external force and the total momentum of the system will be protected. So;

𝐝𝐏𝐭𝐨𝐭 𝐝
𝐝𝐭
=
𝐝𝐭
𝐏𝐭𝐨𝐭 = 𝐏𝟏 + 𝐏𝟐 + ⋯ 𝐏𝐍 = 𝟎 (4.9)

𝑷𝒕𝒐𝒕 = 𝑷𝟏 + 𝑷𝟐 + ⋯ + 𝑷𝑵 = 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕 (4.10)

Above collection is a vector sum process.

If the system of interest is isolated, that is not acted upon by an external force, the total
momentum of the system remains constant.

In this study, in the air table a horizontal position will be investigated momentum
conversation with two-pucks system. In the horizontal position, any external force does not
occur on the pucks on the air table which minimizes friction. Therefore, the total momentum
of the pucks seems to be preserved. Pucks are provided collisions, the total momentum before
and after the collision are measured and compared. The spots obtained in the experiment are
given in the following figure on data paper.

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Figure 4.1 : Data points of the two magnetic pucks that performed elastic collisions on the air table in the
horizontal positions.

Velocities of two pucks are respectively 𝑣! , 𝑣! and 𝑣!! , 𝑣!! before and after the collision.
Momentum is conversed because the system is isolated and at any time;

𝑷𝒕𝒐𝒕 = 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕 (4.11)

𝑷𝑨! 𝑷𝑩 = 𝑷ʹ𝑨 + 𝑷ʹ𝑩 (4.12)

Where the momentums are 𝑃! = 𝑚! 𝑣! , 𝑃! = 𝑚! 𝑣! . Because the masses of the pucks are
same, the above equation is converted as follows.

𝒗𝑨 + 𝒗𝑩 = 𝒗ʹ𝑨 + 𝒗ʹ𝑩 (4.13)

It is shown method that the vector sum in the equation 4.13 (above) are geometrically found
in the experimental procedure section. Since the system is isolated, the momentum is
conserved at an inelastic collision. In such a collision, two pucks move sticking together, as
an object having a mass 2m and the velocity 𝑣 ! . The points in the data sheet should resemble
the Figure 4.1.

Another concept that will be encountered in this experiment is the center of mass (CM). The
CM of symmetrical objects such as cubes (figure 4.2a) and spheres (figure 4.2b ) is the same
with the theirs geometric center. The CM of the shape in the figure 4. 2c is predictably the
midpoint of the rod.

22


Figure 4.2: CM of some symmetric homogeneous objects.

CM for mass distribution in different shapes should be redefined. CM of position vector 𝑅 of

a system with N particles is defined as follows, (seen Figure 4.2)

𝒎𝟏 𝒓𝟏 !𝒎𝟐 𝒓𝟐 !⋯..!𝒎𝑵 𝒓𝑵
𝑹=
𝒎𝟏 !𝒎𝟐 !⋯!𝒎𝑵
(4.14)

Where 𝑟! , 𝑟! , … , 𝑟! are position vectors and 𝑚! , 𝑚! , … . 𝑚! are masses.

Figure4. 3: CM of R for mass distribution.

23


If the particles change their position with time, the position of the CM changes and the vector
exchange rate of CM considered as the center of mass velocity.

𝒅𝑹
𝑽𝑪𝑴 =
𝒅𝒕
(4.15)

when we take the derivative of both sides of equation (4.14) for particles with constant mass.

(4.16)

𝒎𝟏 𝒗𝟏 !𝒎𝟐 𝒗𝟐 !⋯!𝒎𝑵 𝒗𝑵
𝑽𝑪𝑴 =
𝒎𝟏 !𝒎𝟐 !⋯!𝒎𝑵
(4.17)

are obtained. The points in the equation (4.16) means derivative so that these are only
speeds. When the above equation is applied to the two pucks systems;

𝒎𝒓𝑨 !𝒎𝒓𝑩
𝑹=
𝒎!𝒎
(4.18)

𝒓𝑨 !𝒓𝑩
𝑹=
𝟐
(4.19)

are obtained. Since the masses of the pucks are equal here, equation 4.20 is obtained by
removing the masses. Thus, velocity of CM,

𝒗𝑨 !𝒗𝑩
𝑽𝑪𝑴 =
𝟐
(4.20)

There are some important consequences of the above equation. In two pucks sytem, firstly,
while maintaining momentum total on the right side of the equation are constant (compare
with equation 4.13). This situation means that velocity of CM is constant under these
conditions. In other words, the CM moves at a constant velocity. (Constant velocity means
that the magnitude and direction of the speed does not changes). Thus, CM of the system
always moves at a linear constant speed for a system isolated that the total momentum is
conserved. This situation also shows that the velocity is equal to half of total velocities of both
masses. Therefore, velocity equations are as follows for our two-pucks system, before and
after the collision.

𝑽𝑪𝑴 = 𝑽ʹ𝑪𝑴 (4.21)

𝑽 𝒗 !𝒗 𝒗 !𝒗 ʹ ʹ (4.22)
𝑪𝑴! 𝑨 𝟐 𝑩 ! 𝑽ʹ𝑪𝑴 ! 𝑨 𝟐 𝑩

24


In this experiment, It will be investigated kinetic energy conservation of the pucks for the
collision secondly. Let us remember the definition of kinetic energy K of an object that have
mass m and linear velocity v.

!
K = mv ! (4.23)
!

Therefore, total kinetic energy of the two-pucks system prior to the elastic collision;

𝟏 𝟏
𝑲 = 𝒎𝒗𝟐𝑨 + 𝒎𝒗𝟐𝑩 (4.24)
𝟐 𝟐

and kinetic energy after the collision;

𝟏 𝟏
𝑲 = 𝒎𝒗𝟐𝑨 + 𝒎𝒗𝟐𝑩 (4.25)
𝟐 𝟐

However, the two pucks sticks each other in an inelastic collisions. After this collision, these
two pucks move as an object that have mass 2m and velocity v. Thus, ıts kinetic energy;

𝟏
𝑲ʹ = 𝟐𝒎 𝒗𝟐 ʹ = 𝒎𝒗𝟐 ʹ (4.26)
𝟐

Since the kinetic energy is a scalar quantity, the total in equation (4.25) and (4.26) is a scalar
collection process. On the other hand, the kinetic energy is preserved in almost elastic
collision that is K = 𝑲′

PROCEDURE

ü Please run the pump switch (P).

ü Gently launch the two pucks diagonally towards each other so they closely approach
each other and repel without touching. Repeat this process several times until
sufficient degree appropriate get collision.
ü Now, set the period from the the spark generator (example 60 ms)
ü Later throw the puck to the other side by an air table when running the P key and so
run the of the spark generator as soon as the pucks remain constant
ü Hold both switches open until two pucks movement bave comp lated

CALCULATIONS

25


ü Remove the data sheet and then please carefully review the resulting points. Spots
should be like in Figure 4.1. Points for each pucks 0, 1, 2, …. and so on the
numbering.
ü Two or three of the range of each, measure the length divided by the time on the road.
Later each puck collide rate found before and after the collision. Pucks come in the
way of naming the A and B before the collision and the A´ and B ´ after the collision.
ü Find the vector sum ve . Example; Find the vector addition of

and . For example, to lengthen A and B ways for finding .

After draw vector of this velocities size which is relation with the length where start
the crosssection and direction. For instance, velocity of 10 m/s can be drawn for
1cm length vector. Then, find the sum of this velocities using parallelogram adding.
Make the same method for .
ü Define the points that made at same time after and before collision. Specify the
location of the center of mass combining those points.
ü Find the speed using the obtained recording for CM, before and after the collision.
ü Find the kinetic energy of two-pucks before and after the collision and compare them.

QUESTIONS

1. How to change the momentum and kinetic energy, if the velocity of a particle
doubles?

2. Are their momentums also equal, if the kinetic energy of two objects are equal?
Explain why.

3. As a result of the full elastic collision between two particles, does the kinetic energy of
each particle change?

4. Is it possible for a body, the center of mass is being outside of its actual volume? If
your answer is "Yes", give an example?

26
 Name of Lecturer:
Name of Assistant:

Students Name and Surname:

Number:

2018-2019 FALL SEMESTERS

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

Department of ……………………………………

-Laboratory Report –

Name of the Experiment:

Objective:

The equipment:

Theory:

Experimental Data (An example table given below):

27


∆𝒙𝒊 (𝒄𝒎) ∆𝒕𝒊 (𝒔)

1
2
3
4
5
6

Calculations:

Graphs (If any)

Conclusion:

28


29