Impulse change in momentum
Purpose
The purpose of the experiment is to verify that impulse equals the change in momentum.
Theory
impulse- the change in linear momentum of a body, found taking area under a curve
Impulse equals the force times change in time.
momentum- the product of mass and velocity
The change in momentum is found by multiplying mass and the change in velocity.
Impulse equals the force times change in time.
momentum- the product of mass and velocity
The change in momentum is found by multiplying mass and the change in velocity.
Experimental Technique
We let a cart roll down a ramp at different heights. Using a force sensor and a velocity measure we were able to measure the force of the cart hitting a soft spring, hard spring, and a rubber bumper. We found the impulse by finding the area under the curve, and found momentum by using the momentum formula used above in the theory section. Then we put all the data into a data table and found percent differences.
Data and analysis
This graph represents raw data collected from the soft spring.
This graph represents raw data collected from the hard spring.
This graph represents raw data collected from the rubber bumper.
Below is the data table.
Conclusion
The purpose of the experiment was to prove that impulse equals change in momentum. We attempted to do this by using a cart and motion sensors to calculate impulse and and change in momentum. After taking many samples we decided to use the best data we collected at thirty centimeters away from the force center. In the end we came close to proving that impulse equals change in momentum. Our percent differences ranged from one to twenty percent. Sensor glitches and the angle of incline could have contributed to the errors.