M21aPrelab:Conservation ofMomentum

1. (2p) Write down the definition of the linear momentum of an object and describe it.

1. (1p) Explain what is the linear momentum of a system.

1. (2p) Write down the equation for the kinetic energy of an object and explain what is a kinetic energy.

1. (2p) Write down the equation for the gravitational potential energy and explain what is a potential energy.

1. (1p) Whatdoesitmeanfor aquantitysuchasmomentumtobe conserved?

1. (2p) What is a mechanical energy and what does it mean for a mechanical energy to be conserved?

1. In your experiment, you will study a collision using an apparatus called a ballisticspendulum. The collision will be between a horizontally projected ball and a stationarypendulum, which will catch and hold the ball as the collision occurs. If the mass of theball, m, initial velocity of the ball, vi, mass of the pendulum, M, angle when thependulumreachesthehighestpoint,andfinalvelocityofthesystemaftercollision,vf,are known:

1. (2p) Writetheequationsforthetotalkineticenergybeforeandafter aninelasticcollision.

1. (2p) Writetheequations forthetotalmomentumbefore andafteraninelasticcollision.

1. (6p) Max is measuring the momentum before and after an inelastic collision. He launches aball into a pendulum that has a length R = .525 m and reaches a maximum angle of 22^o If he uses the equation given in the lab instructions to calculate the final velocity of thesystem (the velocity of the pendulum right after the collision),whatwouldthisvaluebe?

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