PURPOSE: To show that a larger impulse is imparted by an elastic collision.
DESCRIPTION: A vacuum mud ball at the end of a rod is held horizontally and released so that it swings into a wooden block. The vacuum mud ball is replaced by a superball with the same mass, and the experiment repeated. Q: In which of these cases will the wood block be knocked over? A: The superball knocks over the wooden block because it bounces back, imparting more momentum to the block.
SUGGESTIONS: Use a balance to show that the masses are equal.
REFERENCES: (PIRA 1N30.50)
EQUIPMENT: Superball, vacuum mud, 1200 gram wood block, balance, physical pendulum mechanism with clip retainer.
SETUP TIME: 5 min.
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