Collision & Momentum Advanced Student Version

Key Concepts:
Newtons Third Law of Motion states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. A vector is a quantity that has both size and direction. Velocity is the rate of change of an objects position over time. It is also a vector; it has speed and direction. Definition: Velocity = distance / time v = x/ t Typical units: meters per second (m/s) Momentum is the quantity of motion an object has. It could be referred to as mass in motion because all objects have mass, so if they are in motion, then they have momentum. It is also another vector; it includes mass and velocity. Definiton: Momentum = mass x velocity p =mv Typical units: kilograms meters per second (kg x m/s) Momentum is conserved. This means that the total momentum never changes; it is always the same. The momentum of one object is transferred to the other with which it collides. Kinetic energy is the energy an object in motion has. Definition: Kinetic Energy = (one half)mass x velocity(squared) KE = ()mv2 2 Typical units: 1 Joule = 1kg x (m/s) An elastic collision is a collision between at least two objects in which the total kinetic energy is conserved; it remains the same before and after the collision, because the objects velocities relative to each other are switched after the collision. For example, if an object in motion collides with an object at rest, it comes to a complete stop and transfers all of its velocity to the object at rest, causing the latter to move at the same velocity with which it was hit. An inelastic collision is a collision between at least two objects in which the kinetic energy is lost to other forms of energy or processes (heat, friction, etc.), but the total momentum is still conserved.

Materials:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. A smooth, flat surface Wall 2 paper towel tubes (these will be the ramps) 1 meter stick 2 marbles of the same size (same mass) 2 larger marbles (larger mass than the first two marbles, but the same mass as each other) Textbooks or other prop to give ramp height of 10cm 1 laptop with microphone (either built-in or separately attached), Excel, and with the

program Audacity installed (consult teacher). 9. Rudimentary scale:

Procedure: Situation 1 Equal Masses

1. Hold your balance by the middle string. The weights in both bags are equal when the ruler is straight. 2. Insert one small marble into one of the sandwich bags. 3. Insert a couple of jelly beans into the 2nd bag 4. Insert or remove jelly beans into the 2nd bag until the ruler is straight. You are finding the marbles mass in terms of jellybeans. Record mass of marbles. Mass: **1 jelly bean = 1 gram Marble 1 2 # of Jelly Beans Mass (g)

9. Place textbooks (or other props) on top of smooth, flat surface, such as a linoleum floor or table approximately 1m away from wall. With meter stick, give them a height of 10cm (for ramp). 10. On smooth, flat surface, lean paper towel tube against textbooks (or other props) so that the top end is at the 10cm height, while the other end is touching the floor. It should be positioned so that the marble rolled down the ramp will roll across the floor and collide with the wall. 11. Tape down paper towel tube onto textbooks/props (if needed) 12. Place Marble 1 at the top of the paper towel tube ramp (the marble at the top of the ramp will always be referred to as Marble 1 from hereon). 13. Place Marble 2 at the bottom of the paper towel tube ramp, on the floor and directly in the path of where the first marble will roll (the marble at the bottom of the ramp will always be referred to as Marble 2 from hereon). 14. Measure the distance from Marble 2 to the wall that it will eventually hit. 15. Calculate and record the initial velocities of the marbles by knowing the laws of conservation of energy (the velocity of the immobile Marble 2 is 0m/s): a. Due to gravitational potential energy (GPE), all unsupported objects fall downward with a gravitational acceleration of 9.8m/s2. The total GPE is a

product of mass m, gravitational acceleration g, and height h: GPE = mgh b. Conservation of energy states that the marbles kinetic energy at the bottom of the ramp is equal to its GPE at the top of the ramp. c. To find the velocity v of the rolling marble, set the two equations equal to each other and solve for the unknown variable v. Kinetic Energy = Gravitational Potential Energy mv2 = mgh Initial Velocity: Marble 1 2 Mass (g) g (acceleration) 9.8m/s/s 9.8m/s/s Height (m) 10cm 0cm Velocity (m/s)

Questions: 1. Which marble do you predict will have a greater momentum? Explain.

2. If momentum is conserved, what do you think will happen when the two marbles make contact with each other?

3. Assume this will be an elastic collision, and the velocity of Marble 1 is transferred to Marble 2. Calculate the time it will take for a marble 2 to cross the 1 meter distance to the wall.

16. Calculate and record the initial momentum of both Marble 1 and Marble 2 using the formula: p = mv. Calculate (and record) the total momentum (simply add up the two individual momentums). Initial Momentum: Marble Mass (g) Velocity (m/s) Momentum (gm/s) 1 2 Total p:

17. One student prepares to start recording on Audacity as soon as Marble 1 is rolled down the paper towel ramp. 18. Start Audacity, and Roll marble 1 (the one at the top of the ramp) by simply releasing it at the top of the ramp without pushing it down at all. 19. Observe collision and make sure collision sound is recorded on Audacity. If not, redo procedure or adjust microphone until a peak in the sound recording appears at the moment of collision. 20. Stop Marble 1 (from rolling) as soon as Marble 2 reaches wall. This will require one student focusing on Marble 1 and stopping its motion immediately upon this cue. 21. Stop recording on Audacity after marble 2 hits wall [there should also be a sound peak at the moment of collision with the wall]. 22. Measure and record distance traveled by Marble 1 (after collision). 23. Calculate and record time for Marbles 1 and 2. The distance Marble 2 travels after the collision is known from you previous measurement between its starting point and the wall, but to find the time that elapsed between the marble collision and wall collision, measure the time difference between two collision sound peaks on Audacity. The time corresponds to the time spent rolling after the collision by both Marble 1 and Marble 2. Final Velocity: Marble Distance (m) Time (s) Velocity (m/s) 1 2 24. Calculate and record the velocities of Marble 1 and Marble 2. 25. Calculate each marbles final momentum. Final Momentum: Marble Mass (g) Velocity (m/s) Momentum (gm/s) 1 2 Total p: Questions: 1. Do the marbles final momentums add up to the total initial momentum?

2. Was this experiment an example of an elastic collision or an inelastic collision? How do you know?

Situation 2 Different Masses

1. Exchange one of the small marbles for the large marble. 2. Measure the mass of the large marble (now Marble 1) and the small marble (now marble 2) using your rudimentary scale (like you did in the previous trial). Mass: Marble 1 2 # of Jelly Beans Mass (g)

Questions: 1. Predict what will happen when the larger marble collides with the smaller marble at the bottom of the ramp.

2. How do you think the larger marbles mass will affect the velocity of the smaller marble after the collision?

3. Place the larger marble at the top of the ramp (Marble 1), and the small marble at the bottom of the ramp (Marble 2). 4. Calculate and record the initial velocities of the marbles [refer to step 15 from Situation 1] Initial Velocity: Marble Mass (g) g (acceleration) Height (m) Velocity (m/s) 1 9.8m/s/s 25cm 2 9.8m/s/s 0cm 5. Assume this will be an elastic collision, and the velocity of Marble 1 is transferred to Marble 2. Calculate the time it will take for a marble 2 to cross the 1 meter distance to the wall.

6. Calculate the initial momentums of the marbles [refer to step 15 from first situation] Initial Momentum: Marble Mass (g) Velocity (m/s) Momentum (gm/s) 1 2 Total p: 7. One student prepares to start recording on Audacity as soon as Marble 1 is rolled down the paper towel ramp. 8. Start recording on Audacity, and roll marble 1 (the one at the top of the ramp) by simply releasing it at the top of the ramp without pushing it down at all. 9. Observe collision and make sure collision sound is recorded on Audacity. If not, redo procedure or adjust microphone until a peak in the sound recording appears at the moment of collision. 10. Stop Marble 1 (from rolling) as soon as Marble 2 reaches wall. This will require one student focusing on Marble 1 and stopping its motion immediately upon this cue. 11. Stop recording on Audacity after marble 2 hits wall [there should also be a sound peak at the moment of collision with the wall]. 12. Measure and record distance traveled by Marble 1. 13. Calculate and record time for Marbles 1 and 2 after collision. [Refer to step 24 from situation] 14. Calculate each marbles velocity after the collision to calculate each marbles final momentum [refer to steps 24 and 25 from situation 1] Final Velocity: Marble Distance (m) Time (s) Velocity (m/s) 1 2 Final Momentum: Marble Mass (g) Velocity (m/s) Momentum (gm/s) 1 2 Total p: Questions: 1. Did the difference in masses have an effect on the velocities of the marbles after the collision?

2. How do the initial and final momentums of the marbles compare?

Situation 3 Switch!
1. This time, place the small marble at the top of the ramp (now Marble 1), and place the large marble (now Marble 2) at the bottom of the ramp, on the floor and directly in the path of where the first marble will roll. 2. Calculate and record the initial velocities of the marbles [refer to step 15 from the first situation] Initial Velocity: Marble Mass (g) g (acceleration) Height (m) Velocity (m/s) 1 9.8m/s/s 10cm 2 9.8m/s/s 0cm 3. Assume this will be an elastic collision, and the velocity of Marble 1 is transferred to Marble 2. Calculate the time it will take for a marble 2 to cross the 1 meter distance to the wall.

4. Calculate and record the initial momentums of the marbles [use the formula] Initial Momentum: Marble Mass (g) Velocity (m/s) Momentum (gm/s) 1 2 Total p: 5. Repeats steps 6 12 from Situation 2. 6. Calculate each marbles velocity after the collision to calculate each marbles final momentum. Final Velocity: Marble Distance (m) Time (s) Velocity (m/s) 1 2 Final Momentum: Marble Mass (g) Velocity (m/s) Momentum (gm/s) 1 2 Total p: Questions: 1. What do your observations from situation 2 and the results of this situation tell you about

the relationship between mass and momentum? 2. Based on your response to the previous question, what are some ways any object can increase its momentum?

3. Who do you think would have a greater momentum, a 25kg person running at 20mph, or a 40kg person riding a bike at 10mph?