Physics Lab Report Impulse
Impulse and Momentum Lab
Part I:
As the first lab of the Physics 2 curriculum, our class completed a lab experiment that introduced us students to a new concept that would be a foundation to the future topics that we learn in this class. In this lab activity, we used a lab cart on a flat track to compare the collision of the cart with a force sensor with and without the plunger during different trials. The materials that we would need for this activity are a lab cart on a flat track, a timer, a force sensor, and a Ti-Nspire Calculator. The Ti-Nspire Calculator was connected to the force sensor in order to track and create data that would be shown in graphs on the calculator. Because we had to compare the collision of the cart with the force sensor with and without the plunger, it would force us to run two trials in total (one run with the plunger, and one run without the plunger). Once all of the materials were prepared, I began with run one, which was with the plunger, and later run two, without the plunger. After running both trials, assuming that accurate data was gleaned, I began to analyze and compare the data obtained from the force sensor. The Ti-Nspire Calculator created “data and statistics” graphs as Force (N) by Time (s) graphs. In order to easily see the physical differences between the two graphs, we manipulated the menu of the calculator and placed both graphs on the same screen, one on top of the other. In the data I collected, run one (with plunger) graph was physically more round than that of run two (without plunger) as run two’s graph was much more sharp and looked more of a triangle like shape. As technologically innovative as the Ti-Nspire Calculator is, it also calculated the time of impact for each run. The start time of impact for run one was 1.78 seconds and the end time was 1.90 seconds, therefore the duration of impact was 0.12 seconds. For run two, the start time of impact was 1.82 seconds, and the end time was 1.88 seconds, so
Part I:
As the first lab of the Physics 2 curriculum, our class completed a lab experiment that introduced us students to a new concept that would be a foundation to the future topics that we learn in this class. In this lab activity, we used a lab cart on a flat track to compare the collision of the cart with a force sensor with and without the plunger during different trials. The materials that we would need for this activity are a lab cart on a flat track, a timer, a force sensor, and a Ti-Nspire Calculator. The Ti-Nspire Calculator was connected to the force sensor in order to track and create data that would be shown in graphs on the calculator. Because we had to compare the collision of the cart with the force sensor with and without the plunger, it would force us to run two trials in total (one run with the plunger, and one run without the plunger). Once all of the materials were prepared, I began with run one, which was with the plunger, and later run two, without the plunger. After running both trials, assuming that accurate data was gleaned, I began to analyze and compare the data obtained from the force sensor. The Ti-Nspire Calculator created “data and statistics” graphs as Force (N) by Time (s) graphs. In order to easily see the physical differences between the two graphs, we manipulated the menu of the calculator and placed both graphs on the same screen, one on top of the other. In the data I collected, run one (with plunger) graph was physically more round than that of run two (without plunger) as run two’s graph was much more sharp and looked more of a triangle like shape. As technologically innovative as the Ti-Nspire Calculator is, it also calculated the time of impact for each run. The start time of impact for run one was 1.78 seconds and the end time was 1.90 seconds, therefore the duration of impact was 0.12 seconds. For run two, the start time of impact was 1.82 seconds, and the end time was 1.88 seconds, so