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C7-21: ENERGY AND MOMENTUM - COLLISION AND PROJECTILE

PURPOSE: To illustrate conservation of momentum and conservation of energy.

DESCRIPTION: A pool ball, suspended as a pendulum of length L, is released from an angle a and collides with an identical pool ball initially at rest. The second pool ball then immediately projects horizontally off the edge of the lecture table of height H. The range R of the projected ball is given by

R = 2 SQRT [ LH (1 - cos a)]

SUGGESTIONS:

REFERENCES: (PIRA unavailable.) See Demonstration Reference File for derivation of equations.

EQUIPMENT: Billiard ball on bifilar suspension with support assembly, loose billiard ball, rubber pad, target board, and meter stick, assembled as photographed on request.

SETUP TIME: 15 min.


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