Lab partner: Dustin Ballistic Pendulum 11-28-10 Abstract: The general theories that my partner and I will be placing

under scrutiny in this experiment is the theory that states angular momentum is conserved which by definition states: I* =m*V*r; and also the theory that rotational kinetic energy ( I ^2 ) is conserved. Which implies that I ^2 = MgHcm where M= the combined mass of the pendulum and the bearing and Hcm= the max height that the center of mass of the combined pendulum and bearing reaches after the inelastic collision of the pendulum and the bearing. Theory Section: Theory #1: T=2(pi)[I/(mgRcm)]^(1/2) For 1-D motion is it commonly known that MV^2 = K.E. However for rotational motion the theory is similar except that the M becomes I (the moment of inertia) which essentially is mass in rotational motion. Also the V becomes which represents rotational velocity and more specifically, radians per second. So thus our 1-D kinetic energy theory easily becomes a 2-D rotational energy theory I ^2 and of course by definition Mghcm = gravitational potential energy. What I just stated is the basis for my Theory #2: I ^2= Mghcm Theory #3: I* =m*V*r A= -g V= V0 gt Theory #4: Y= Y0 + V0- g*t^2

Procedure and apparatus: Figure 1

Figure 2

Bearing has a mass (m).

Figure 3

Figure 4

First off my partner and I will launch the bearing to see where the built in angular measurer of the pendulum stops (see figure 1). We will take the average of the two

angular measurements. Afterwards we will remove the launcher and allow the pendulum to swing freely with the bearing inside of it we will be measuring the period of the oscillation by allowing the pendulum to swing to and fro 10 times then dividing this measurement by 10. We will do this twice and then take the average of the two measurements. Afterwards we will use theory #1 in my theory section to solve for the moment of inertia which will be crucial in the process to find the bearings initial velocity just after being launched through use of the conservation of momentum. Then my partner and I will be employing theory #2 which states, I ^2= MgHcm to find the pendulums initial angular velocity after the inelastic collision by solving for . But before doing this I must first solve for Hcm using the value of Rcm that I will find through use of a balancing point on the pendulum with the bearing inside of it of course. Then I can use the following to find Hcm: Hcm = Rcm Rcm*cos(). After finding for the pendulum just after the collision I will use the conservation of momentum and Theory #3 which states: I* =m*V*r; in order to find what the bearings initial velocity was. After calculating the initial velocity (V) for mass m using the theory # 3 I will be comparing this value of the initial velocity to the kinematic theorys value of the initial velocity (V). The kinematic potion of the experiment will be conducted by setting the launcher up nearly perfectly horizontally then firing the launcher from a known height (h) to a distance which shall be measured (d). (Please see figure 4 for picture of the scenario) Then using basic kinematics I will first solve for the time (t) that the bearing is in free fall after being launched by using the position equation from theory #4. 0 = (-) g t^2 + h then after finding the time I will substitute the time (t) into the equation V*t = d and solve for V. This kinematic value of V is the value that I will be comparing to the value of V given by theories #1 through # 3. Data Table:
Rcm .288 m r .3 m m .055 Kg M .2965 Kg (initial) 0.5 T (avg) 1.117 sec h 1.07 m d 1.81 m (max) avg. with (initial) subtracted 25.25

Analysis: Using Theory #1: T= 2(pi)[I/(MgRcm)]^(1/2) 1.117= 2*(pi)[I/(.2965*9.8*.288)]^(1/2) 1.117=2(pi)(I/.8368416)^(1/2) [1.117/(2(pi))]^2= I/.836416 I .02643 (See figure 3 for symbol reference) Finding Hcm: Hcm = Rcm Rcm*cos(max) Hcm = .288 .288*cos(25.5) Hcm = .0275 Using Theory #2: I ^2= Mghcm = (MgHcm*2/I)^(1/2) = (.2965*9.8*.0275*2/.02643)^(1/2) 2.459 Using Theory #3: I* =r*m*V .02643* 2.459 = .055* V*.3 V 3.939 (m/s) : V measured using theories #1 through #3 (several theories)

(see figure 4 for symbol reference) Using the position equation from theory #4: 0= (-) g t^2 + h 0= (-) 9.8 t^2 + 1.07 m t = (1.07*2/9.8)^(1/2) t = .4673 sec V*t = 1.81 m V= 1.81/.4673 V 3.873 (m/s) : V measured using theory #4 (kinematics)
V (using kinematics) 3.873 (m/s) V (using: period, rotational energy, gravational potential energy, and rotational momentum) 3.939 (m/s)

%difference between: V (using kinematics) & V (using: period, rotational energy, gravational potential energy, and rotational momentum) 1.7%

Evaluation and conclusion: Since the following results were calculated from this experiment:
V (using kinematics) 3.873 (m/s) V (using: period, rotational energy, gravational potential energy, and rotational momentum) 3.939 (m/s)

%difference between: V (using kinematics) & V (using: period, rotational energy, gravational potential energy, and rotational momentum) 1.7%

I find it extremely safe to say that my partner and I both conducted an experiment which fell within experimental uncertainty. We only had a 1.7% difference between our calculated V for both scenarios. One scenario was where the bearing was launched into a pendulum. The second scenario where the bearing was launched and landed some distance (d) away and fell a height (h). Both experiments were conducted using very good techniques fortunately. Its time for my partner and I to do a victory lap.