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Teacher Key (GI)

Momentum and Impulse


Guided Inquiry (GI)

Problem Statement
You walk into a lab station and you
notice the group before yours has
performed a lab. They left behind
their data from one trial (shown to
the right). Their task was to prove
that the change in momentum in an
object is equal to the impulse for
different initial velocity values.
Design and conduct an experiment
to:
Recreate their lab with similar
but not necessarily exact values
using three different initial
velocity values.

Time (s)

0N
0.60 s

0.66 s

Force (N)

25 N

0.75 m/s

Determine a relationship between


the change in momentum and the
impulse of a cart rolling down an
inclined track and colliding with
a barrier.

Velocity (m/s)

Time (s)
0.60 s

0.66 s

0.75 m/s

Time Requirement
Preparation time

10 minutes

Pre-lab discussion and activity

10 minutes

Lab activity

45 minutes

Materials and Equipment


For each student or group:
Data collection system

Dynamics track

Force sensor with bumper

Dynamics track rod clamp

Motion sensor

Discover Collision Bracket

Balance, (1 per class), 1200-g capacity

Large base and support rod

Dynamics cart

For evaluation purposes only

Momentum and Impulse


Background
Vehicle airbags and the large yellow barrels full of sand called Fitch barriers near highway exits
are credited with saving thousands of lives and reducing injuries to car occupants. Two
important physics phenomena that occur during a collision are the change in momentum and the
impulse imparted on the vehicle and its occupants.
The change in momentum can be calculated by subtracting the momentum before a collision
from the momentum after a collision:
p = mv f mvi

(1)

Where p is the change in momentum, m is the mass, vf is the final velocity, and vi is the initial
velocity.
Impulse is equal to the area under a graph of force versus time showing the force associated with
the collision. Impulse I is also related to p through the impulse-momentum equation:
I = p = mv

(2)

Lab Preparation
Although this activity requires no specific lab preparation, allow 10 minutes to assemble the equipment
needed to conduct the lab

Safety
Refer to the Safety section of the Instructor Information for this lab.

Design and Conduct the Experiment


Write a brief outline of the procedure you will use to collect data. Identify the steps in sequence and the
points at which each piece of equipment will be used. Use the following questions to guide your
experiment design.
Refer to the steps outlined in the Procedure section of the Teacher Key (S) for a description of what the students'
experimental design might look like.

1. Using only the equipment provided, describe how you would construct an
apparatus that will measure the initial and final velocity and force associated with a
cart colliding with a barrier.
Answer provided here.

2. How will you configure your data collection system to display your measured
values? What sort of a display (graph, table, et cetera) will you use for each and why?
Answer provided here.

For evaluation purposes only

Teacher Key (GI)


3. The force sensor has a zero function that sets the initial measured force to zero
whenever it is pressed. Do you think it would be good practice to press this button
before each of your trials? Why or why not?
It would be good practice to press this before each trial so that all of our values are consistent.

4. When making measurements, in what order should the following events


occur?(Number them in the correct sequence.)
___x___ Release the cart.
___x___ Begin data collection
___x___ Stop data collection.
___x___ The cart collides with the barrier.

5. At what points in your display showing the velocity of the cart should the initial
and final velocities be measured?
Answer provided here.

6. What technique will you use to measure the impulse associated with the collision?
Answer provided here.

Diagram of the Experiment


Draw a diagram of the experimental setup you will use. Be sure to label each component and the
measurements each component will be used to make. In the diagram, include components that were
used but did not make any measurements.
Refer to the Set Up section of the Teacher Key (S) for a diagram that should be similar to the student's diagram
of the experiment.

Relevant Equations
List the relevant equations you will use and show how you will use them in conjunction with your
measured values to determine the relationship between the change in momentum and the impulse of a
cart colliding with a barrier.
Refer to the Relevant Equations subsection of the Background section of the Teacher Key (S).

Collect Data
Students can place their raw data in this section.

Data Analysis
Present your data in the form of a table and any other way you find useful to determine the relationship
between the change in momentum and the impulse of a cart colliding with a barrier.

For evaluation purposes only

Momentum and Impulse


Refer to the Data Analysis section in the Teacher Key (S) for examples of the data formats and data the students
may include in this section.

Analysis Questions
Refer to the Analysis Questions section of the Teacher Key (S) for answers.

Synthesis Questions
Refer to the Synthesis Questions section of the Teacher Key (S) for answers.

Multiple Choice Questions


Refer to the Multiple Choice Questions section of the Teacher Key (S) for answers.

For evaluation purposes only

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