Section: L1/K3

Schedule: Tue 12:00-3:00 PM

Conservation of Momentum: Blackwood Pendulum

Gell Mark T. Credo
Cebu Institute of Technology-University
[email protected]

Abstract
The experiment was being completed to be able to verify the Law
of Conservation of Momentum. Momentum is defined as the
product of a body’s mass and velocity. It is an indication of how
hard it would to stop an object. So, fast velocity comes with great
momentum because they are directly proportional. Mass on the
other hand is also directly proportional to momentum but it’s not a
factor-of-focus it is more likely to be constant depending on the
object. In the experiment’s part I, the initial velocity was quantified
by measuring the height of the ballistic pendulum, the distance
travelled by the ball after it was launched and followed a specific
formula in computing for time (t) and the initial velocity (V1). Part
II of this experiment determined the value of momentum using the
data in Part I and finding the angular displacement of the system to
get the value of the maximum height reached by the system in
meters. Same with part I, part II of the experiment also followed
formulas to get the final velocity (V2) and then compared the
momentum value in Part I which is P1 = MbV1 and in Part II
which is P2 = (Mb + Mp)V2. Therefore, momentum is directly
proportional to the mass of an object and its velocity and that
objects at rest does not have a momentum at all. Momentum is
only conserved if the total external force is zero.

Introduction
This experiment aims to verify the Law of Conservation of momentum. Momentum is
said to be the product of an object’s mass and velocity. An object that is great mass and velocity
are often the ones who require the biggest amount of force to be stopped. Consider the movie
Superman where superman tried to stop the plane from crashing down a baseball field, you see
that he exerted a great amount of strength compared to the scene when he stopped a car that
intentionally supposed to hit him but because he was a man of steel, he easily stopped the car
with just one hand. So we can say that the plane has greater amount of momentum than that of
the car. Pertaining to the experiment’s Part where the initial velocity of the ball was measured
after it was launched. The height of the pendulum was measured as well as its distance (dx) it
reached after launching. These data were used to find the time (t) it landed using the formula t =
√ 2 h/g then calculated the initial velocity by V1 = x/t. After gathering all the data, the
momentum (P1) was then quantified by multiplying the mass of the ball and the initial velocity
we calculated earlier. Part II of this experiment was the determination of momentum where the
angle of displacement of the system in radians was used together with the length of the pendulum
to get the maximum height reached by the system in m (H) by the formula H = L(1-cosØ). The
initial velocity was calculated by V2 = √ 2 gh. After gathering all the data needed, the other
momentum (P2) was then calculated using P2= (Mb + Mp)V2. Therefore, the amount of
momentum gained by one object is equal to the amount of momentum lost by the other object.
The total momentum possessed by the two objects does not change. Momentum is simply
transferred from one object to the other object.
II. Theory
“The total amount momentum before impact equals the total momentum after impact.”
This statement is simply an application of Newton’s third law of motion to the collision between
objects 1 and 2. Now in any given interaction, the forces which are exerted upon an object act for
the same amount of time. The Law of Conservation of Momentum is applicable to all collision
phenomena whether they involve the largest astronomical bodies or the smallest atomic particle.
Momentum of a body is defined as the product of the mass of the body and its velocity. The cgs
unit of momentum is gm.cm per sec. when two or more bodies collide with each other and some
internal changes occur within a body or a system of bodies, it is a common practice to first apply
the Law of Conservation of Momentum.
III. Methods
A ball was fired horizontally and its range and vertical distance of fall were observed.
From these distances and the value of g, the speed was calculated. The ball was fired into a
suspended holder, arranged to swing as a ballistic pendulum. The speed of the pendulum and ball
after impact was computed from the rise of the pendulum. The momentum of the ball before
impact and that of the ball and pendulum after impact were calculated and compared.

Part I. Measurement of the Initial Velocity of the Ball

The launcher on the iron stand was mounted and the metal ball was placed into the
launcher. The vertical distance or position of the ball from the floor to the launcher was
measured. The launcher was fired by pulling on the string and the approximate place where the
ball strikes the floor was noted. A clean sheet of paper with a piece of carbon paper was placed
under it at that approximated location on the floor. This arrangement automatically marks the
spot where the ball hits the floor. The launcher was fired five times and the horizontal distance
traveled was measured by the ball. By using the appropriate formula the speed of the ball was
solved.
 Part II. Determination of Momentum

The pendulum on an iron stand with a rotary sensor positioned in front of it was mounted.
The sensor was connected to the computer port. “Create experiment” was clicked. On the graph
window, set up and tick box on angular position was also clicked. On another iron stand, the
launcher with its nozzle aligned in the front of the pendulum was mounted. The ball was placed
in the launcher. The start button was clicked on the computer window. The string was pulled on.
The stop button was clicked after the pendulum has reached the maximum height. The
summation icon was clicked and the maximum was chose. This maximum value as the angular
position of the composite body was recorded. The maximum height reached was computed by
the composite body using the appropriate formula. By using the appropriate formula the velocity
of the composite body after impact was solved. The initial and final momenta of the system were
compared.

IV. Results and Discussion

Part I. Measurement of the Initial Velocity of the Ball

TRIAL h (m) x (m) t (s) V1(m/s)
1 0.82 1.515 0.409 3.704

Part II. Determination of Momentum

Trial V1 mb mp Ø L H (m) V2 P1 P2 %Diff
(m/s) (kg) (kg) (rad) (m) (m/s) (kg●m/s (kg●m/s
) )
1 3.70 0.66 0.246 7/45 0.34 0.040 0.893 0.248 0.280 11.43
4 9 9 ᴫ 8 7 4 %

The momentum and energy of the ball and pendulum's system are both conserved if there
are no external forces. We used the law of conservation of momentum and conservation of
energy to find the initial velocity of the ball, and then compare to the value we got from
measurement of range and fall. We found these two values are really close, which proves the law
of conservation of momentum and conservation of energy.
V. Conclusion
The experimenters performed this experiment to be able analyze how velocity is directly
proportional to the momentum and mechanical energy of a body. The group have concluded that
if the initial velocity of the ball in Procedure B were to increase and double to a stronger
launcher spring, the ball’s time of flight would not change because the vertical acceleration and
velocity are still equal. The group also came up with what had happened to the loss of kinetic
energy of the ball was that the energy was transformed into other types of energy like thermal
energy and sound energy, for example. The conclusion of the experiment proved that the
momentum in collision is equal to the initial momentum. One way in which the accuracy of this
data could be improved is by maybe trying to have the trials on the surface of the earth. This
would help because the tables are of less friction, so they can be moved by the smallest touch.
This can cause the degree reader to appear higher or lower than it really was. Another way we
can improve the accuracy of the measurements is by having equipment that is more precise and
advanced. As far as the results go, they were pretty much on point.
References:
 http://www.odinity.com/ballistic-pendulum-experiment
 http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/momentum/Lesson-2/Momentum-Conservation-
Principle 
 https://www.lhup.edu/~dsimanek/scenario/labman1/ballist.htm
Questions and Problems
1. A 5-kg ball moving with a velocity of 8 m/s collides head-on with another ball of 2-kg
mass and initially at rest. After impact the first mass is still moving in the same direction,
but with a velocity of 4 m/s. Calculate:
a. The velocity of the second mass after impact;
b. The initial kinetic energy;
c. The total kinetic energy after impact;
d. The energy loss during impact;
e. The relative velocity of approach before impact; and
f. The relative velocity of separation after impact
2. A 5-kg block of wood hangs as a pendulum by a string 4 meters long. When a 30-gm
bullet is fired at close range into the block and becomes embedded, the block swings to a
height where the string makes an angle 30° with the vertical.
Find:
a. The recoil height of the block;
b. The recoil speed of the block;
c. The recoil speed of the bullet;

An ivory ball with a mass 0.4 kg, moving with a speed of 6 m/s, collides head-on with another
ivory ball of the same mass and size, at rest. If the coefficient of restitution is 0.65, find the
velocity of each ball.