Linear Momentum Conservation
Contents
Decription of the Experiment
The pedagogic purpose of this experiment is to teach users about concepts like reference frame, center of mass and conservation of linear momentum.
This experiment encompasses not only conservation of momentum, it also shows the collision in four different reference frames: the center of mass's, each vehicle's and Earth's.
To achieve this, two cars are launched and will collide with eachother and, while that happens, the control sistem calculates the speed at which the camera should move to film the reference frame chosen by the user.
By recording and reviewing the video, the user can see all the physical phenomena. The control room gives the cars' inicial and final speeds.
Who likes this idea
This idea is the result of the PEC26 contract with Ciência Viva - The portuguese Agency for Cientific and technological Culture and its objectives are (i) sharing (through the internet) existing experimental setups that some high-schools have but are not in use and (ii) promote teaching cience through the use of experimental activities. The automation of the experiment was made by IST students as part of the e-lab project.
The first school involved in this experiment were Escola Secundária Padre António Vieira, Alvalade/Lisboa and Externato Cooperativo da Benedita, Leiria. Escola Secundária Poeta Al Berto in Sines also colaborated.
Experimental Apparatus
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
| Quantity | Value |
|---|---|
| Car A's mass | 215.4±1 gr. |
| Car B's mass | 237.1±1 gr. |
The Cars
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
What's a photocell?
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Protocol
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Advanced Protocol
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
