Experiment 6 64

Kuwait University Physics Department

Physics 105 & 125

Explosion and Elastic Collision

Objectives
The objective of this experiment is to study the conservation of linear momentum,
conservation of kinetic energy, and to demonstrate both conservation laws for a one-
dimensional elastic head-on collision as well as explosion.

Equipments
• 1.2 m long track with feet and end stops.

• frictionless plunger cart,

• frictionless collision cart,

• 250g (short) and 500g (long) black mass bars,

• Smart timer with 2 accessory photogates.

• Photo-gate timer with accessory photo-gate.

Theory
The linear momentum p and the kinetic energy K of an object of mass m moving
with velocity v is defined as

1
p = mv , K = mv2 (1)
2
Experiment 6 65

Collisions usually are categorized into two major types, mainly ”Elastic collision”
and ”Inelastic collision”. The Inelastic collision is divided further into two main
subcategories known as the ”Partial inelastic collision”, where the lose of kinetic
energy can be greater that zero and less than 100%. The second type; however, is
known as the ”Total or Completely inelastic collision” where the two objects stick
together when they collide. In this case the lose of kinetic energy will be exactly
equal to 100% and all of this energy is used specifically to bond the colliding objects
together. One has to keep in mind that for all types of collisions mentioned above,
that linear momentum is conserved.

When two bodies with masses m1 and m2 moving along the x-axis with initial veloci-
ties v1i and v2i encounter an elastic head-on collision, the total linear momentum will
be conserved, i.e.:
p1i + p2i = p1f + p2f , (2)
or
m1v1i + m2v2i = m1v1f + m2v2f . (3)

And the total kinetic energy of the system is conserved as well. i.e.:

K1i + K2i = K1f + K2f . (4)

or
1 1 1 1
m1 v12i + m2 v22i = m1 v12f + m2 v22f . (5)
2 2 2 2
And this type of collision is referred to as Elastic collision.

As an example of completely inelastic collision we should analyze the case of

explosion. In this experiment, we will consider the case when the physical system is
divided, due to the explosion, to two product bodies pushed away from each other.
If the system is initially at rest, then both the total initial linear momentum and the
total initial kinetic energy of the physical system are equal to zero. Consequently,
Experiment 6 66

the linear momentum of both bodies after the explosion will be equal in magnitude
and opposite in direction. i.e.:

p1f = −p2f =⇒ |p1f | = |p2f | (6)

The kinetic energy, however is not conserved. Although the initial kinetic energy of
both bodied is zero, their final kinetic energies are related as follows:
 
m2
K1f = K2f (7)
m1

Procedures
Conservation of Momentum in Explosions

1) Mount an end stop at each end of the track and level the track by adjusting
the two screws beneath the feet on both sides of the track until a glider placed
at the center of track becomes stationary.

2) Put two photogates on the mounting brackets or stand. They should be posi-
tioned near the center of the track. as shown below.

Figure 1. Experimental setup for One Dimensional Explosion.

3) Put a picket fence into the slots on top of each cart. Label one cart as ”cart
1” and the other as ”cart 2”.
Experiment 6 67

4) Measure the total mass of each cart with its picket fence and record the values
in kilograms in Table 1.

5) Adjust the hight of the both photogates so that the beam can read the full
width of the two black strips at the top of the picket fences that are attached to
the carts. Connect both the photogates to Channel 1 & 2 on the smart timer.
The photogates must be positioned such that they are near the end of each cart
(see Figure 1).

6) Push in the plunger of the plunger cart to its second notch. Put the carts
end-to-end in the middle of the track.

7) Set up the smart timer to measure speed by pressing button #1 on timer key
pad, and select collision (cm/s) mode by pressing button #2 on timer key
pad of the smart timer

8) Start the smart timer by pressing button #3 on timer key pad. You should be
able to see the symbol (*) on the display of the smart timer. Tap the plunger
release button (trigger) with a short stick to set both carts in explosion motion.

9) Record your measurements in the first line (trial 1) of Table 1.

10) For the second trial, put a 250 g mass bar into ”cart 2” only. (Do not add any
mass bars to the other ”cart 1”).

11) For the third trial, put 250 g of extra mass into the ”cart 2”. Measure and
record the new mass of the cart, and repeat the data recording procedure.

Conservation of Momentum in Elastic Collisions

1) Weigh the carts and record their masses in Table 2, and Set up the carts so
the magnetic ends face each other. This allows the carts to repel each other by
magnetic force when they collide.
Experiment 6 68

2) Place ”cart 2” at rest in the middle of the track (The collision zone) and ”cart
1” should be kept at the left end of the track (See Figure 2).

Figure 2. Experimental setup for One Dimensional Elastic Collision.

3) Set up the smart timer to measure the speed by pressing button #1 on timer
key pad, and select collision (cm/s) mode by pressing button #2 on timer
key pad of the smart timer.

4) Start the smart timer by pressing button #3 on timer key pad. You should be
able to see the symbol (*) on the display of the smart timer.

5) Give ”cart 1” an initial velocity by pushing it gently with your hand toward
”cart 2” which is kept at rest . Weigh the carts and record the masses and
the velocities in Table 2.

6) Repeat the previous step; however, Put the 750g mass bar into ”cart 2” and
Place it at rest in collision zone in the middle of the track while keeping ”cart 1”
empty. Give ”cart 1” an initial velocity toward ”cart 2”. Record the velocities
in Table 2.

7) Repeat the previous step; however, the 750g mass bar is placed into ”cart 1”
on the side and leave ”cart 2” at rest in the collision zone without any additional
masses. Push the ”cart 1” and record the masses and velocities in Table 2.
Kuwait University Physics Department
Course / section: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Date:
day month year

Student Serial Number:

Experiment ( ) : _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_____________________________

Student name: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Student number: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Instructor name: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Partners: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_________________________
_________________________

Total Mark
 Experiment 6 69

Kuwait University Physics Department

Physics Lab 105 & 125 Student Number:
Student Name: Date:

Explosion and Elastic Collision

Objectives:
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Conservation of Momentum in Explosions

Table 1: Mcart1 = ............................., Mcart2 = ................................

 
p2 −p1
Trial M1 M2 v1f v2f p1f = M1 v1f p2f = M2 v2f %Error= (p1 +p2 )
× 100
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
Trial 1
cart 1→Empty

cart 2→Empty

Trial 2
cart 1→Empty

cart 2→+250g

Trial 3
cart 1→Empty

cart 2→+500g

Measurements:
Trial 1: Ktotali = K1i +K2i = ........ , Ktotalf = 12 M1 v12f + 12 M2v22f = ..............................
Trial 2: Ktotali = ....................... , Ktotalf = 12 M1v12f + 12 M2 v22f = ................................
Trial 3: Ktotali = ....................... , Ktotalf = 12 M1v12f + 12 M2 v22f = ................................
Is momentum conserved? ...............................................................................
Is kinetic energy conserved? ...........................................................................
 Conservation of Momentum in Elastic collision

Table 2: Mcart1 = ............................., Mcart2 = ................................

Ptotali = Ptotalf =  
Experiment 6

Pti −Ptf
Trial M1 M2 v1i v1f v2i v2f M1 v1i + M2 v2i M1 v1f + M2 v2f %Error= (Pti +Ptf )
× 100
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
Trial 1
cart 1→Empty

cart 2→Empty

Trial 2
cart 1→Empty

cart 2→+750g

Trial 3
cart 1→+750g

cart 2→Empty

Measurements:
Trial 1: Ktotali = 12 M1 v12i + 12 M2 v22i = .............................. , Ktotalf = 12 M1 v12f + 12 M2 v22f = ..............................
Trial 2: Ktotali = 12 M1 v12i + 12 M2 v22i = .............................. , Ktotalf = 12 M1 v12f + 12 M2 v22f = ..............................
Trial 3: Ktotali = 12 M1 v12i + 12 M2 v22i = .............................. , Ktotalf = 12 M1 v12f + 12 M2 v22f = ..............................
Is momentum conserved? ...............................................................................
Is kinetic energy conserved? ...........................................................................
70
Experiment 6 71

Kuwait University Physics Department

Physics Lab 105 & 125 Student Number:
Student Name: Date:

Explosion and Elastic Collision

From your observations of the Elastic Collision, please comment on the direction of
motion of cart 1 before and after the collision:
* In Trial (1): ....................................................................................................................................
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* In Trial (2): ....................................................................................................................................
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* In Trial (3): ....................................................................................................................................

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Discussion and conclusions:

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