This is to demonstrate the principle of conservation of momentum and showing that momentum is a vector quantity having both magnitude and direction. The apparatus comprises : A curved wooden runway 275 mm long and 65 mm high at its highest point, having a groove 8 mm wide down which a steel ball is rolled. An index mark at the top of the runway is provided so that the ball may be rolled from a constant height ensuring reproducibility of results. A metal plate 100 mm square is attached to its lower end which enables the apparatus to be fixed to the edge of a bench by a G-clamp. The plate also has a slot for the attachment of object sphere support. An object sphere support is an adjustable device which attaches to the mounting plate of the runway and will support a ball either exactly opposite the end of the runway for head on collision or slightly offset for oblique impact. Supplied with a plumb bob for making the plumb line and Two spheres (steel ball bearings 16 mm diameters). |
