Linear Momentum Conservation

Description of the Experiment

The purpose of this experiment is to study the concepts of reference frame and center of mass.

Experimental Apparatus

Experimental setup

This experiment is composed of:

• 1 track
• 2 cars
• 1 step motor
• 2 electric motors
• 2 parking sensors
• 1 electronic circuit with:
  • 1 circuit to turn the stamp on
  • 2 motion detectors

Protocol

The user can choose the following parameters:

• Car A's energy
• Car B's energy
• Reference frame where the collision will be observed:
  • car A
  • car B
  • center of mass
  • laboratory

1. Choose each car's initial speed;
2. After several runs, with the information of initial and final speed, verify the conservation of momentum and energy;
3. Do a few runs with the camera fixed on one of the cars and on the center of mass and make some remarks;
4. Repeat for several combinations of initial speeds.