Then on a close look at the triangle-like pattern created on the paper in the x and y components of velocity, the respective velocities were calculated to see if momentum was conserved before and after the collision but the results indicated a change in 13% on momentum.
It was observed that the difference in vector had a value of 0.027, and was not the predicted zero, this was mostly due to presence of errors in the velocities. The difference vector we used to calculate a 13% change in momentum, meaning momentum was NOT conserved in this experiment. Despite the fact that the masses were equal, when the two pucks collided there was sound energy given off as well as minor amounts of heat energy, this is the most likely reason for the momentum not being conserved, . The percent change in Kinetic Energy was also calculated using the
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Do the points on your plot of angle vs. time in investigation 3 lie along a straight line? Explain. Our points do lie along a straight line though not horizontal. The predicted angles in a perfect experiment for investigation 3 would have all be of uniform 90 degrees, due to the curvature of the motion at the canter of mass, our angles increased with time.
4. If there were no external forces acting on the two pucks, their complex motion could be described as the combination of the uniform linear motion of the center of mass and a uniform circular motion of the pucks about the center of mass. Describe how well your results agree with this expectation, and explain any deviations that you observe from the predicted behaviour. As with an ideal situation described above, the two pucks should form a motion similar to a helix formation across the page. Our pucks veered off to the right, as they spun which is, of course, not a straight line. Our results did not agree to the expected results due to uneven distribution of forces in the two pucks when initially pushed.
5. In investigation 3, are the momenta of each puck conserved?