Physics 2011 Lab 8 Impulse
Object: To examine relationship between impulse and change of momentum.
Apparatus:
1. iMac and ScienceWorkshop interface;
2. Motion Sensor, Force Sensor
3. Mini Cart. Wooden Track.
Theory: When an object strike a barrier, the force varies as the collision occurs. Changes
in the momentum of objects can be obtained from the velocity changes:
if
mvmvp
The impulse-momentum theorem states:
ptFFdtI
net
In the lab, we will measure the velocity changes using a motion sensor and measure the
impulse of the collision using force sensor.
Procedure:
1. Turn on iMac computer.
2. Turn on Scienceworkshop interface
3. Open DataStudio™ and choose the impulse experiment.
4. Connect sensors to the interface according to the setup diagram of the
experiment (click to the setup button to see the diagram). Place the sensors at
both ends of the track board. Raise the board on the Motion sensor side by
about 2cm so that the cart will have approximately the same speed for each
trial. Fix the force sensor so it will not move during collision.
5. Release the mini cart from the same position close to the motion sensor for
each trial.
6. Record the velocities before and after collision and the impulse.
7. Repeat steps 5-6 for 5 times.
8. Measure the mass of the cart.
Results
Table I. Impulse and Momentum
Mass of the cart = ____________
Trial
1 vivfΔpp I diff %
2
3
4
5
Percentage difference = |Δp-I|/I*100%Δpp-I|Δp-I|/I*100%/I*100%