Marble Lous Momentum Lab Report
Marble-lous Momentum
Question: What happens to momentum when one marble collides with other marbles?
Hypothesis: If a marble collides with increasingly more marbles, then the momentum will be transferred more slowly to the final marble, because momentum is conserved through an inelastic collision, but a longer distance will have be traveled by the kinetic energy.
Independent Variable: The number of marbles.
Dependent Variable: The momentum of the first marble and final marble.
Control Variables: The same size/weight marbles, the same track, the same person releasing the marble, textbooks, the same of the first marble.
Materials: Six marbles, metal track, fingers, rulers, three stopwatches, two Holt Physical Science with Earth and Space Science …show more content…
The investigation revealed a few main points: supposed elastic collisions are often actually inelastic, as proven by mathematics; longer distances for kinetic energy transfer results in longer times for kinetic energy to disappear, thus having more variable momentum; human error must be at a minimum when dealing with sensitive measurements, like that of time. First of all, elastic collision are not always elastic in actuality. This experiment was designed to simulate an elastic collision. However, after the data were collected, the formula for elastic collisions and conservation of kinetic energy proved that our simulation was, in fact, not elastic. This is significant, as it demonstrates how variable collisions can be and what effect they may have if incorrectly assumed. Secondly, kinetic energy takes longer to dissipate after it has travelled a longer distance. The data reveal this finding in the time it takes the final marble to exit the track decreasing, while the time of the first marble losing kinetic energy until it is lacking increases. This finding shows that, in general, heavier masses are able to move quickly, but will take a lot longer to stop. Finally, human error can make it much more difficult to accurately measure sensitive variables, like time. Even with three people, it can still be very difficult to precisely time. This finding can be applied to any scientific investigation, and is always important to keep in
Question: What happens to momentum when one marble collides with other marbles?
Hypothesis: If a marble collides with increasingly more marbles, then the momentum will be transferred more slowly to the final marble, because momentum is conserved through an inelastic collision, but a longer distance will have be traveled by the kinetic energy.
Independent Variable: The number of marbles.
Dependent Variable: The momentum of the first marble and final marble.
Control Variables: The same size/weight marbles, the same track, the same person releasing the marble, textbooks, the same of the first marble.
Materials: Six marbles, metal track, fingers, rulers, three stopwatches, two Holt Physical Science with Earth and Space Science …show more content…
The investigation revealed a few main points: supposed elastic collisions are often actually inelastic, as proven by mathematics; longer distances for kinetic energy transfer results in longer times for kinetic energy to disappear, thus having more variable momentum; human error must be at a minimum when dealing with sensitive measurements, like that of time. First of all, elastic collision are not always elastic in actuality. This experiment was designed to simulate an elastic collision. However, after the data were collected, the formula for elastic collisions and conservation of kinetic energy proved that our simulation was, in fact, not elastic. This is significant, as it demonstrates how variable collisions can be and what effect they may have if incorrectly assumed. Secondly, kinetic energy takes longer to dissipate after it has travelled a longer distance. The data reveal this finding in the time it takes the final marble to exit the track decreasing, while the time of the first marble losing kinetic energy until it is lacking increases. This finding shows that, in general, heavier masses are able to move quickly, but will take a lot longer to stop. Finally, human error can make it much more difficult to accurately measure sensitive variables, like time. Even with three people, it can still be very difficult to precisely time. This finding can be applied to any scientific investigation, and is always important to keep in