PASCO ME-6962 PAStrack Systems - Manual (Page 11)

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P A S t r a c k S y s t e m s E x p e r i m e n t 2 : C o n s e r v a t i o n o f M o m e n t u m i n C o l l i s i o n s
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Case A3: Start both carts at one end of the track. Give the first cart a slow velocity
and the second cart a faster velocity so that the second cart catches the first cart.
B. Carts with Unequal Mass
Put two mass bars in one of the carts so that the mass of one cart is approximately
three times the mass (3M) of the other cart (1M).
Case B1: Place the 3M cart at rest in the middle of the track. Give the other cart an
initial velocity toward the cart at rest.
Case B2: Place the 1M cart at rest in the middle of the track. Give the 3M cart an ini-
tial velocity toward the cart at rest.
Case B3: Start the carts with one at each end of the track. Give each cart approxi-
mately the same velocity toward each other.
Case B4: Start both carts at one end of the track. Give the first cart a slow velocity
and the second cart a faster velocity so that the second cart catches the first cart. Do
this for both cases: with the 1M cart first and then for the 3M cart first.
Part II: Completely Inelastic Collisions
1. Orient the two carts so their hook-and-loop bumpers are toward each other. Push
the plunger in all the way so it will not interfere with the collision.
2. Repeat test cases A1 through A3 and B1 through B3 and draw diagrams for each
case.
Questions
1. When two carts having the same mass and the same speed collide and stick
together, they stop. Is momentum conserved?
2. When two carts having the same mass and the same speed collide and bounce off
of each other elastically, what is the final total momentum of the carts?