SC 130 Physical Science Laboratory Four: Momentum and Energy

Marble Momentum and Energy 2007

Question

Can we show that momentum and energy are conserved in a simple system?

Part One: Conservation of Marble Momentum

Hypothesis

Marbles in equals marbles out. Speed in equals speed out. Momentum in equals momentum out.

Procedure

Describe what you did in this part.

Data tables | Data Analysis and Results | Data Display/Diagrams

Design your own. You decide how to best record and present the data you have gathered.

Part Two: Testing for Conservation of Momentum in a Collision

Introduction

Hypothesis

The sum of the momentums before the collision are equal to the sum of the momentums after the collision.

Procedure

Describe what you did in this part.

Data tables | Data Analysis and Results | Data Display/Diagrams

Design your own. You decide how to best record and present the data you have gathered.

Part three: Conservation of Potential and Kinetic Energy in a simple system

Introduction

Hypothesis

The kinetic energy of a object that falls a distance h is equal to the lost gravitational potential energy.

Procedure

Describe what you did in this part.

Data tables | Data Analysis and Results | Data Display/Diagrams

Design your own. You decide how to best record and present the data you have gathered.

Conclusions

Wrap up these three activities with an essay that addresses each of the three activities and the results you observed and measured. Comment on whether the hypotheses held for your team. Discuss anything unusual, new, or different you encountered. Discuss what the conservation of momentum and energy means for you in light of the above activities. Be thorough and complete. Use correct grammar and spelling.