Lab: Conservation of Linear Momentum / Instruction / virtual lab

A space vehicle approaches a space station in orbit. The intent of the engineers is to have the vehicle slowly approach, reducing velocity, until a docking maneuver is completed and the vehicle is attached to the station. How does the total momentum of the docked vehicle and station compare to the momentum of each object before the docking maneuver? greater momentum same momentum less momentum

B

In this lab, you will use a dynamics track to generate collisions between two carts. If momentum is conserved, what variable change would result in a velocity change after a collision? In the space below, write a scientific question that you will answer by doing this experiment.

How does changing mass affect colliding objects?

Write a hypothesis about the effect of increasing the total mass of the carts on the final velocity after an inelastic collision. Use the "if . . . then . . . because . . ." format and be sure to answer the lesson question: "How does changing mass affect colliding objects?"

The hypothesis about the effect of increasing the total mass of the carts on the final velocity after an inelastic collision will be as follows; "If the total mass of two colliding carts is increased then the final velocity of the carts drops, because mass and velocity define momentum and momentum is preserved during an inelastic collision".

Use the drop-down menus to complete each sentence. To run the simulation, you will alter mass in creating momentum of the carts. The total mass of the carts in the collision is the independentdependentconstant variable. The velocity of the combined carts after the collision will change because of the change in the independent variable. In this way, the final velocity is the X independent dependentX constant variable.

independent / dependent

A set of data is collected for objects in an inelastic collision, as recorded in the table. To identify the momentum of Object 1, you must multiply elapsed timemassacceleration and elapsed timeapplied forcevelocity to find momentum. Object 1 had a momentum of 2.04.08.0 kg ∙ m/s before the collision. Object 2 had a momentum of 0.06.08.0 kg ∙ m/s before the collision. The combined mass after the collision had a total momentum of 14.010.08.0.

mass / velocity / 8.0 / 0.0 / 8.0