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AP Physics
Materials
1. 2 vernier carts
2. Low friction vernier track
3. Stopwatch
4. Mass scale
Procedure
1. Measure the mass of each cart and record
2. Place the carts along the track, 20 cm apart each
other.
3. Push one cart into the other that is at rest. Timing
from the start to the moment of impact. A second
timer should also be started from the moment of
impact until the second car had made 20 cm.
4. Calculate the velocity by using the formula distance,
20 cm, over time taken.
5. Record data.
6. Repeat steps but this time do it with the side of the
car that can stick together for an inelastic collision.
Data and Analysis
Elastic Collision
Cart 1
Mass = 513.86 g
Initial Velocity = 0 cm/s (at rest)
Final Velocity = 14.23 cm/s (away from cart 2)
Cart 2
Mass = 507.20 g
Initial Velocity = 18.67 cm/s (toward cart 1)
Final Velocity = 0 cm/s (at rest)
We plug in the data into the formula of law of conservation of momentum in an elastic collision
The momentum was not conserved due to friction, small air resistance, and the human error
imprecise measuring of time and the distance of cart travelled in millimeter that turned into
inaccurate velocity. The momentum after collision is less than the momentum before collision
Data and Analysis
Inelastic Collision
Cart 1
Mass = 513.86 g
Initial Velocity = 0 cm/s (at rest)
Final Velocity = 13.33 cm/s (stick with cart 2)
Cart 2
Mass = 507.20 g
Initial Velocity = 26.67 cm/s (toward cart 1)
Final Velocity = 13.33 cm/s (stick with cart 1)
We plug in the data into the formula of law of conservation of momentum in an inelastic collision
The momentum after collision is a little bit more than the momentum before collision. This has to
do with the little difference of masses of two carts and also friction, small air resistance, and
timing errors.