IB Physics 11 HL                            Joy Fan (Raymond Tang, Candice Lin)

January 5, 2009  

Blk. D

Smashing Gliders

Purpose:

To determine the amount of momentum and kinetic energy conserved in elastic and inelastic collisions.

Materials:

        Air track, two gliders (one heavier than the other), force spring, 500g-weight, timer, ruler, paper, two carts, masking tape.

Background Theory:

Momentum ρ= mv

- Momentum is conserved in a closed isolated system (no external forces)

- Kinetic energy is conserved in an elastic collision

- Inelastic collision- stick together

Inelastic collision:

Before:

After:

Elastic collision:

Before:

After:

                

Cart Explosion:

Before:

After:

Procedure:

Part I: Inelastic and Elastic Collisions

  1. Set up an air track with two gilders of different masses on it.
  2. Tape cardboard to the gilders so that the timers can read them, measure the lengths of the cardboard and record in Table 1.
  3. Weigh the gliders and record in Table 1.
  4. In the inelastic collision, the smaller glider is at rest, gently push the larger glider so that it sticks onto the smaller glider across the timer with minimum space in between. Repeat this step 3 times, and record the times in Table 2.
  5. In the elastic collision, the larger glider is at rest, gently push the smaller glider so that it hits the larger glider and both bounce back and through the timers. Repeat this step 3 times, and record the times in Table 3.
Join now!

Part II: Cart Explosion

  1. Measure weight of the two carts and the weight used using a force spring. Record the measurements in Table 1.
  2. Place weight on one of the carts.
  3. Push the springs of the two carts as closely together and release, start timing.
  4. Time both carts using different timers, stop timer when cart stops moving.
  5. Measure the distances the cart travels with a meter stick, record measurements in Table 4.

6.  Repeat steps 1-5 three times.

Observations and Analysis:

Table 1 Measurements

Part I Inelastic and Elastic Collisions

Table 2 Inelastic Collision

...

This is a preview of the whole essay