PhysicsLAB: Impulse

During this lab you will be using both a motion detector and a dual-action force probe. The motion detector will show you the cart's position as it approaches and rebounds from its impact with the force probe. The force probe will provide you will a graph of force vs time during the collision.

After the experimental trial has been run, you will be provided with a printout showing graphs of both force vs time and position vs time. The numerical value of the area under the force graph will be provided on the printout.

Refer to the following information for the next nine questions.

Graphical Experimental Data

What was the numerical value of the area of your cart's Force vs Time graph? Remember to provide appropriate units.

What does this numerical value represent?

Why was this value negative?

Part 1 - before the collision. On your Position vs Time graph, provide two data points (x, y) that are NOT within the time interval shown on your force vs time graph to determine the graph's upward slope prior to the collision.

What is the numerical value of this initial slope? Remember to provide appropriate units.

Part 2 - after the collision. On your Position vs Time graph, provide two data points (x.y) that are NOT within the time interval shown on your force vs time graph to determine the graph's downward slope after the collision.

What is the numerical value of this final slope? Remember to provide appropriate units.

Why do these slopes have opposite signs?

Why were you instructed to not use data points within the time interval of the actual impact?

Refer to the following information for the next three questions.

Conclusions

Using your previous two slopes and the area of your force vs time graph, calculate the mass of the cart. Show your calculations on this paper. What is the cart's mass in kg?

Now use a triple beam balance to measure your cart's actual mass in kg.

What is your lab's percent error?

During the collision, which experienced the greater impulse: the probe and its stand, or the cart?

the probe and its standthe cartneither, they received impulses of equal magnitude

Show below is a Force vs Time graph on the cart obtained during a different collision experiment. Which graph correctly represents the Force vs Time graph on the probe and its stand during this experiement?

During this collision, the cart's momentum is not conserved. Does this violate the law of conservation of momentum?