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Questions for Momentum Lab

First period labs can be found at 1stPeriod Labs. Select your lab.
Third period labs can be found at 3rdPeriod Labs. Select your lab.
Fourth period labs can be found at 4thPeriod Labs. Select your lab.
Fifth period labs can be found at 5thPeriod Labs. Select your lab.
Sixth period labs can be found at 6thPeriod Labs. Select your lab.
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Name

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What period are you in?
All answers must be in complete sentences.
Remember in your calculations that the computer records speed, not velocity. You must assign a positive sign when the cart moves to the right and a negative sign when the cart moves to the left.
  1. For station 1 or 7, calculate the initial momentum of cart A and for cart B. Show your set up.

    Initial momentum of cart A:

    Initial momentum of cart B:

  2. For station 1 or 7, calculate the final momentum of cart A and for cart B. Show your set up.

    Final momentum of cart A:

    Final momentum of cart B:

  3. Calculate the initial total momentum for station 1 or 7 (be careful with signs!). Show your setup. Calculate the final total momentum for station 1 or 7 (be careful with signs!). Show your setup.

    Initial total momentum:

    Final total momentum:

  4. For station 1 or 7, was momentum conserved? Support your answer. (If total final momentum is within 20% of the total initial momentum, momentum was conserved.) Example: your initial momentum was ten. 20% of that amount is 2. If your final momentum falls within the range of 8 to 12, you can consider that momentum was conserved.

  5. For station 2 (or 5), calculate the initial momentum of the cart. Show your set up. Calculate the final momentum of the cart. Show your setup.

    Initial momentum of the cart:

    Final momentum of the cart:

  6. For station 2 (or 5), was momentum conserved? Support your answer. (If total final momentum is within 20% of the total initial momentum, momentum was conserved.)

  7. For station 3 (or 6), calculate the initial momentum of cart A. Show your set up. Calculate the final momentum of carts A/B. Show your setup.

    Initial momentum of the cart:

    Final momentum of the cart:

  8. For station 3 (or 6), was momentum conserved? Support your answer. (If total final momentum is within 20% of the total initial momentum, momentum was conserved.)

  9. For station 4, calculate the initial momentum of carts A and B. Show your setup. Calculate the final momentum of carts A and B. Show your setup.

    Initial momentum of the carts:

    Final momentum of cart A:

    Final momentum of cart B:

  10. Calculate the final total momentum for station 4 (be careful with signs!). Show your setup.

    Final total momentum:

  11. For station 4, was momentum conserved? Support your answer. (If total final momentum is within 20% of the total initial momentum, momentum was conserved.)

  12. Why did the slope of your graphs give you speed? What must you do to make this speed a velocity?

  13. State one systematic and one random error that you think may have caused there to be a difference between the initial and the final momentum for each procedure. Identify each as to type of error.

  14. By colliding the carts off of a strong magnetic field, we approximated an elastic collision. The other stations represented inelastic collisions. Is momentum conserved in an elastic collisions? In an inelastic collisions?

Conclusion: In your conclusion, answer the purpose in complete sentences. State which station gave the best results. Briefly state if you felt your lab supported momentum's conservation in elastic and inelastic collisions.