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A student carried out an experiment to verify the principle of conservation of momentum - Leaving Cert Physics - Question 1 - 2016
Question 1
A student carried out an experiment to verify the principle of conservation of momentum. During the experiment, the student took measurements to find mass and veloci... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:A student carried out an experiment to verify the principle of conservation of momentum - Leaving Cert Physics - Question 1 - 2016
Step 1
Draw a labelled diagram of the arrangement of the apparatus used in this experiment.
Answer
To draw a labelled diagram, depict the setup with the following components:
- Two trolleys (A and B): These are placed on a smooth track or runway, labeled 'Trolley A' and 'Trolley B'.
- Photo-gate (1): Installed at the start of the track to measure the time taken for each trolley to pass through.
- Stopwatch/timer: Used to record the time measured by the photo-gate.
- Weights: Show weights hanging from each trolley to measure their mass, labeled appropriately.
- Data logging equipment: Optional, if used to collect and analyze data automatically.
- Ensure to label all parts clearly, including direction of motion.
Step 2
How was mass measured?
Answer
Mass was measured using a digital balance or a set of weights. The student would have positioned the trolleys on the balance and waited for the reading to stabilize, ensuring an accurate mass measurement for each trolley. If weights were used, they would have been added incrementally until the desired mass was reached.
Step 3
What measurements were taken to calculate velocity? How were these measurements taken to calculate velocity?
Answer
To calculate velocity, two main measurements are needed:
- Distance: The distance traveled by each trolley was measured using the marked track or specified length of the runway. This is labeled as 'd'.
- Time: The time taken for the trolleys to travel this distance was measured using the stopwatch or the data from the photo-gate.
To find the velocity ( (v = \frac{d}{t})), velocities were calculated using the formula, where 'd' is the distance and 't' is the time taken for each trolley to cover the distance.
Step 4
How did the student determine the momentum?
Answer
The student determined the momentum of each trolley using the formula for momentum: (p = m \cdot v) where 'm' is the mass and 'v' is the velocity. By measuring both mass and velocity during the experiment, the student calculated the momentum for each trolley at different times.
Step 5
How did the student verify the principle of conservation of momentum?
Answer
The student verified the principle of conservation of momentum by comparing the total momentum before and after a collision between the two trolleys. If the total momentum before the collision ((p_{initial} = m_1 v_1 + m_2 v_2)) equals the total momentum after the collision ((p_{final} = m_1 v_1' + m_2 v_2')), then the principle is verified, thereby demonstrating that momentum is conserved in an isolated system.