1.4 Experiment: Verifying the Law of Conservation of Momentum

1.4 Experiment: Verifying the Law of Conservation of Momentum

Objective:

To experimentally verify the conservation of momentum during collisions.

Apparatus:

- Air track or frictionless surface
- Gliders with different masses
- Motion sensors or photogates
- Data acquisition system

Procedure:

1. Place two gliders on the air track and measure their masses.
2. Set up motion sensors to record the velocities of the gliders before and after the collision.
3. Push one glider towards the other and allow them to collide.
4. Record the velocities of both gliders before and after the collision.
5. Calculate the total momentum before and after the collision.

Data Analysis:

Compare the total momentum before and after the collision. If momentum is conserved, the total momentum before the collision should equal the total momentum after the collision.

Conclusion:

This experiment demonstrates the conservation of momentum in a controlled environment, reinforcing the theoretical concepts.