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Practical 222

This document describes an experiment to verify the principle of conservation of linear momentum. The experiment involves releasing two ball bearings from a curved track and measuring their positions before and after collision. The positions are then used to check equations related to conservation of momentum in the x and y directions.

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Faris 2806
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2K views4 pages

Practical 222

This document describes an experiment to verify the principle of conservation of linear momentum. The experiment involves releasing two ball bearings from a curved track and measuring their positions before and after collision. The positions are then used to check equations related to conservation of momentum in the x and y directions.

Uploaded by

Faris 2806
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SCES3083 : MECHANICS AND THERMODYNAMICS

Practical 2 : To verify the principle of conservation of linear momentum


Theory:
Linear momentum, p is a vector quantity defined as the product of mass and velocity. For a
 
body mass, m and velocity, v; its momentum is given as P  mv . In the absence of external
force, that is, in an isolated system, the total momentum of the system is constant. In other
world, the total momentum is conserved. This is known as the Principle of Conservation of
Linear Momentum.
Applying the Principle of Conservation of Linear Momentum in collision, the total momentum
of the colliding bodies remains the same before and after the collision. Let m1 and m2 be the
  
masses of two colliding bodies(i.e: body 1 and body 2) as shown in Figure below and u1 , u2 , v1

and v 2 are the velocity before and after the collision of body 1 and body 2 respectively. we
may write this as:
   
m1u1  m2u2  m1v1  m2 v 2 2.0

since momentum is a vector quantity, the principle of Conservation of Linear Momentum is


equally true in both x-axis and y-axis direction. In this case of an oblique impact, we resolve
the momentum into x-axis and y-axis and we may write the equation is:

x-axis: m1u1  m1v1 cos  m2 v2 cos  2.1

and

y-axis: 0  m1v1 sin   m2 v2 sin  2.2

Figure 2.0

Dr Mohd Zulfahmi Bahaudin| JSM, IPGKTI


SCES3083 : MECHANICS AND THERMODYNAMICS

In this experiment we shall study the collision between two ball bearings on a curved track.

The first ball bearing is released from the top of the track so that it gains momentum m1u1
before it hits the second ball bearing which is stationary at the horizontal end of the track.

(a) (b)
Figure 2.1
let h be the height of the ball bearing 1 from the falling point to the ground when it starts to
fall freely and R is its horizontal displacement. If t is the time of flight, then from the kinematics
equation, we may write:

h  0
1
 g r 2
2
2h
t
g

The horizontal displacement of the ball bearing,

R  uxt

where ux = u = velocity of the ball bearing as it reach the horizontal track end

2h
Ru
g

g
thus, u  R 2.3
2h

Evidently, the velocity of the ball bearing is directly proportional to its horizontal
displacement, R

Dr Mohd Zulfahmi Bahaudin| JSM, IPGKTI


SCES3083 : MECHANICS AND THERMODYNAMICS

Since the balls fall from the same heihgt, by substituting equations 2.1 and 2.2 respectively
into equation 2.3, we may write :

x-axis: m1 x0  m1 x1  m2 x2 2.4

and

y-axis: 0  m1 y1  m2 y2 2.5

evidently, if equations 2.4 and 2.5 are pratically satisfied, the principle of conservation of
linear momentum is thus verified.

Figure 2.3

Apparatus
1. A level table
2. A curved track (important: the lower end of the track must be horizontal)
3. 2 ball bearings (diameter of 1.0cm)
4. A piece of string
5. A pendulum bob
6. A metre ruler
7. A piece of drawing paper (A3)
8. A piece of carbon paper (A4)
9. A retord stand

Dr Mohd Zulfahmi Bahaudin| JSM, IPGKTI


SCES3083 : MECHANICS AND THERMODYNAMICS

Procedure
a) Weigh the mass of the two ball bearings, m1 and m2.
b) Set up the apparatus as in Figure 2.1 (a).
c) Release ball bearing 1 from a certain height on the curved track shown as point A in
figure. Mark this position on the track.
d) Release ball bearing 1 from point A.
e) Observe the landing point of ball bearing 1 on the floor in order to place the carbon
paper on top of a drawing paper so as to mark accurately the point where the ball
bearings will land on the floor.
f) Release ball bearing 1 from point A and measure the distance from the pendulum to
the landing point of ball bearing 1, X0. Repeat this step to obtain at least 5 readings
and calculate the average value of X0.
g) Place ball bearing 2 on the end of the horizontal track slightly off the path of ball
bearing 1 so that an oblique collision occurs.
h) Place ball bearing 1 from point A (refer to Figure 2.1 (b). These two ball bearings will
subsequently collide and fall freely in a projectile motion.
i) Measure the position of landing points for each ball bearing i.e., X1, X2,Y1 and Y2
(refer to Figure 2.3).
j) Repeat step (e) for at least another four times.
k) Does your result satisfy equations 2.4 and 2.5 ? give your comment(s).

Dr Mohd Zulfahmi Bahaudin| JSM, IPGKTI

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