MMAN1300 Engineering Mechanics 1

Dynamics Assignment Instruction

Deadline: 5pm Saturday Week 9 (9th Nov 2024). Late penalty: 5% per day (rounding up).

Submission Requirement: You need to submit a PDF file and complete tasks regarding the
experiments. Also follow Teams announcements and channel posts for details. You are
encouraged to discuss with your peers in the Dynamics Assignment Teams channel throughout
your working and ask your demonstrators questions, for the best of your learning outcome.

Resources: In addition to this instruction, please go through the 5 videos in the Dynamic
Assignment Folder on Teams for further introduction to the experiment and the process of data
acquirement.

The impulse and momentum tests investigate the effect of collisions on particle motion and
determine parameters using experimental data. Prior to 2019, it was a physical laboratory report
assessment, but due to the tight limitation of the lab space this term, physical lab attendance is
not mandatory to all students, and this assessment has been converted to a simpler assignment
(8%), which focuses on studying and postprocessing the experimental data.

Impulse and Momentum

Equal and opposite forces are experienced by two bodies involved in a collision. These impact
forces influence the subsequent motion of the bodies. If both bodies are free from motion
constraints, the momentum of the system (consisting of both bodies) is preserved as no external
forces act on the system.

Impact forces acting between the bodies during the small interval of time when they are in contact
cause changes in the velocities of each body. An exact determination of these forces is not
practical, but the effects can be summarised into a parameter called the coefficient of restitution.
The coefficient of restitution is a property of collisions and depends upon the materials that are
colliding.

In this assignment you are required to determine the coefficient of restitution of two collisions
based on experimental data provided to you. A collision between a steel plate and glass ball and
a collision between a steel plate and a steel ball. You will be required to complete both
experimental and analytical tasks. In the experimental section, you are required to take
measurements of the distance the projectile travels and the height from which it is dropped. The
analytical section uses these measurements to calculate the coefficient of restitution.

Theory

During collisions involving two bodies, equal and opposite forces acting on each body influence
the resulting motion. When there are no external forces involved in the collision the momentum is
conserved.

Momentum (or linear momentum) is a vector quantity defined as:

G = mv

Momentum has units of kgm/s and is a vector in the direction of v.

From Newton’s Second Law we have:

d
 F = ma = mv = dt mv = G
This states that the sum of all forces is the time rate of change of linear momentum of a system.
The momentum vector can be also be divided up into its vector components for solving problems.

F x = Gx

F y = Gy

Impulse is defined as the time integral of force:

I =  F dt

Impulse has units of Ns and has useful applications in solving problems for forces when very short
times are involved, such as during collisions.

By integrating Newton’s Second Law we can show that the impulse due to a force over a given
time is equal to the change in momentum.
t2 t2
t1
F dt =  G dt = G 2 − G1 = G
t1

During the collision of two particles there are equal and opposite forces acting for the same
amount of time as shown in Figure 1.
 Figure 1 - Collision between two particles

Mathematically this is:

Fa = −Fb
t2 t2
t1
Fa dt =  −Fb dt
t1
t2 t2
t1
Fa dt +  Fb dt = 0
t1

G a + Gb = 0

This is the conservation of momentum and during a collision there is no momentum change for
the system of particles.

However, in actual impacts there is always some energy loss, whether through deformation, heat,
or sound. This energy loss is described by the coefficient of restitution. Provided the relative
velocity of the bodies coming into contact is not too low, the coefficient of restitution is constant
and depends only on the materials from which the bodies are made. The coefficient of restitution,
e, is defined as:

Relative velocity of separation v2 − v1

e= =
Relative velocity of approach v1 − v2

For a perfectly elastic collision where all the kinetic energy is conserved, the coefficient of
restitution is 1.0. For a perfect plastic collision where there is a maximum loss in kinetic energy,
the coefficient of restitution is 0. All collisions lie somewhere between these extremes.

Glass on glass impact comes close to perfectly elastic behaviour with a coefficient of restitution
of about 0.9, while lead on lead has little elasticity and has a coefficient of restitution of about
0.15. As the relative velocity of approach of the two bodies becomes smaller, the coefficient of
restitution is no longer constant but increases in value. It approaches unity as the relative velocity
gets closer to zero. This is shown in Figure 2.
 Figure 2 - Change in e with changes in relative impact velocity (Meriam and Kraige)

Experimental Apparatus

The experimental apparatus is shown in Figure 3 and is located in the Undergraduate Teaching
Laboratory, Room 214, Building J18 (Willis Annex).

The apparatus consists of a vertical tube from which a small ball can be dropped. An angled steel
deflector is located underneath the tube. A ball dropped through the tube will hit the steel deflector
and travel as a projectile before hitting the measuring surface. Carbon paper placed on the
measuring surface records the final impact location.

Figure 3 - Impulse-momentum test rig

There are four variations of this rig. The variations have the steel deflector placed at angles of
10°, 15°, 20° and 25°.

Outline of the Physical Experiment

In the physical experiment, the value for the coefficient of restitution for the ball-on-steel impact
is measured by dropping steel and glass balls onto an inclined steel block. The horizontal distance
that the ball is projected can be measured by recording its impact with carbon paper on white
paper. The experiment is repeated for different inclinations of the steel block. All measurements
provided to you are in the format of Table 1.

The procedure of the physical experiment is:

1. Measure the experimental apparatus, confirm that the vertical height ℎ from the top of the
vertical tube to the point of impact with the steel block is 35cm.
2. Prepare the experimental apparatus by placing white paper on the measuring surface.
Cover the white paper with carbon paper.
3. Drop a glass ball through the pipe and record the horizontal distance (long axis of
apparatus) to the first bounce. Repeat at least three times to determine consistency of
results.
4. Repeat step 3 with steel ball.
5. Repeat steps 1-4 on other variations of experimental apparatus.

Table 1 – Data collected from Impulse-Momentum experiment

Angle Ball Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5 Average

10° Glass

Steel

15° Glass

Steel

20° Glass

Steel

25° Glass

Steel

Analytical Model

The velocity of the ball being dropped at the instant it hits the inclined steel block can be
calculated using the work-energy method:

0 = T + Vg

0 = m ( v2 2 − v12 ) + mg ( h2 − h1 )
1
2

where v is the speed, h is the height, m is the mass and g is the gravitational acceleration.
The subscript 1 refers to the initial state, we assume the ball is released from rest so v1 = 0. The

subscript 2 refers to the state just before the ball impacts the inclined steel block. If we write h =

h2 – h1 to represent the total distance the ball drops, we get the speed at impact as:

v2 = 2gh

The ball is falling downwards so the velocity right before impact is, see Figure 4 for the
coordinate system used:

v = − 2gh j

In impact problems of this type, it is generally assumed that the surfaces coming into contact are
free from friction and that no forces are generated in a direction parallel to the surfaces of the two
colliding bodies. As a result, the component of velocity for each for each of the colliding bodies in
a direction parallel (tangent) to the contact surfaces (vt) does not change during impact. The
coefficient of restitution is applied to the component of velocity in a direction normal to the surface.

Figure 4 shows the velocity of the ball just before and just after impact, resolved into components
parallel (vt) and normal (vn) to the surface of the steel block.

Figure 4 - Coordinate system and velocities before/after impact

After impact, the ball will undergo projectile motion, following a parabolic trajectory as shown in
Figure 3. The horizontal component of velocity throughout this path is constant, while the vertical
component of velocity is subject to the effects of constant acceleration due to gravity.

We can show that the horizontal distance travelled by the ball will be dependent on the coefficient
of restitution. This gives us a method to experimentally determine the coefficient of restitution by
recording the location where the ball lands on the test rig. Prior to impact the ball has velocity:

v = − 2 gh j = vt et + vnen

We can calculate the tangential and normal component of the velocity using the geometry seen
in Figure 4 or by taking dot products with the et and en basis vectors. We find:
 vt = v y sin ( )
vn = −v y cos ( )

Assuming the surface is frictionless, the tangent velocity is not affected by the impact so:

vt = vt = v y sin ( )

The coefficient of restitution is applied to the direction of the contact forces, i.e. in the normal
direction.

vn − vn ,Surface

e=
vn,Surface − vn

As the surface (steel block) is motionless before and after the collision, we obtain:

vn = −evn = ev y cos ( )

The velocity of the ball immediately after impact is then:

v = v y sin ( ) et + ev y cos ( ) en = vx i + vy j

The ball then undergoes projectile motion. The problem is easier to solve in the x-y coordinate

system. The velocities in the x and y directions can be written as:

vx = vn sin ( ) + vt cos ( )

vy = vn cos ( ) − vt sin ( )

Projectile motion equations can be used to calculate the time taken for the ball in its trajectory to
reach its highest point and then to fall back down again to the horizontal level of the steel block.
The time taken is:

2vy
t=
g

The horizontal distance travelled in this time is given by:

2vx vy
d = vxt =
g

Substituting the above expressions in, we can show the horizontal distance travelled is:

d = 2h sin ( 2 ) ( e cos 2 ( ) − sin 2 ( ) ) (1 + e )

This is a second order polynomial in e and can be readily solved, discarding the negative solution.

You will be required to calculate an average value for e for the glass and steel ball collisions at
multiple angles. All results are collected in the format following Table 1.

Tasks

Submit a PDF file, complete the following tasks:

1. Include a table of the raw data provided to you (or your own data if you went to collect it by
yourself), in the style of Table 1.
2. Calculate the coefficient of restitution (e) for each combination of material (steel/glass) and
deflector angle (10°, 15°, 20°, 25°). Present results in a table. Also include a typed out,
fully worked solution for the calculation of one value of e from the horizontal distance d.
3. Generate a plot of your experimental results. Plot angle on the horizontal axis and
coefficient of restitution on the vertical axis. The plot should compare the effects due to
material and deflector angle. Give some brief discussions on the results in the plot (on
statistic error, deviation from theory, etc).
4. Answer the following reflective-learning questions:
a. Why did the physical scenario differ from the theory (ideal model)? How can these
discrepancies influence the validity of the results?
b. What factors do you reckon can change the coefficient of restitution in a collision?
Briefly explain why.
 Data collection, Mark Allocation and Originality

Most of you will be provided with all of the required data to perform the calculations.

If you would like to collect your own experimental data, as long as there is remaining space in the
lab, you are welcome to do it in the Undergraduate Teaching Laboratory, Room 214A, Building
J18 (Willis Annex). You may attend the laboratory anytime during standard business hours but
do note that this is a shared space and other classes may be running. The rigs will be available
from Week 7 to Week 9.

Though many students may use the same data sheet, and collaboration is permitted, the final
submitted assignment must still be your own work. That means all typing, calculations, plots,
and answers are completed by yourself. Relying on Generative-AI for writing is not permitted
as it can be related to inadequate involvement in the learning process.

Task Marks
Raw data 0.5
Calculation of e 2
Plot and discussion of the results 3
Reflective-learning questions 1
Assignment overall quality 1.5
Total 8

Professional Engineering Communication

This assignment does not have to be submitted as a formal lab report. It will suffice to complete
the given tasks; however, professional writing and presentation of your assignment, and clarity of
the result are still highly important. Section marks will be deducted in your assignment if your
writing, calculations or data plots/presentation is significantly unprofessional or not clear to the
marker.