In a report of an experiment to verify the principle of conservation of momentum, a student wrote the following: I assembled the apparatus needed for the experiment - Leaving Cert Physics - Question 1 - 2006

The student used an electronic balance or scales to measure the mass of the trolleys. This method ensures accuracy by providing a direct measurement of the mass.

The student calculated the velocity of the trolleys using the formula:

$velocity = \frac{distance}{time}$

The distance was measured using a ruler or measuring tape, and the time was recorded using a timer. The student would perform the calculation as:

$velocity = \frac{d}{t}$

where:

• d = distance traveled by the trolley
• t = time taken for that distance.

The momentum of the trolleys was determined using the formula:

$momentum = mass \times velocity$

The student multiplied the mass of each trolley (obtained from the measurement) by its velocity (calculated in the previous step).

The student verified the principle of conservation of momentum by comparing the total momentum of the system before and after the collision or interaction of the trolleys. This involves:

1. Calculating the total momentum before the interaction using the formula: $total\ momentum_{before} = momentum_{trolley1} + momentum_{trolley2}$
2. Calculating the total momentum after the interaction using the same formula.
3. Showing that the total momentum before equals the total momentum after, confirming the conservation principle.