Momentum science experiment help

In summary, a ninth grade student is planning a science fair project involving a homemade marble shooter with a rubber band. The experiment will explore the concept of momentum by varying the weight of the marbles and measuring the distance they travel after hitting a book. However, this method may not be effective in calculating momentum due to the impact's elasticity and quick decrease in speed. As a college freshman, the student can now discuss the project on a more technical level.
  • #1
Illumination
1
0
Hello, I am a ninth grade student in high school and I have a science fair project experiment idea. There will be a homemade marble shooter made with a rubber band. the rubber band will be pulled about half of a foot back and will propel a marble through a tube. the marble will hit a book and the marble's momentum will cause it to roll back. The distance of away from the book to the marble shooter will be a foot. The levels of independent variable will be marbles with completely different weights. This experiment will be used to find out momentum. How do I calculate do momentum for this experiment. Remember I am a ninth grader so please don't get too technical.
 
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  • #2
Illumination said:
the marble's momentum will cause it to roll back.
No, the elasticity of the impact with the book will make the marble roll back.
If it rolls back very little, nealy all the momentum has been imparted to the book, making it move a bit. But to find the momentum we need its mass and how fast it started moving. This is difficult because the speed will be small and very quickly fall to zero due to friction.
In short, this is not an effective way to find momentum.
 
  • #3
Illumination said:
Remember I am a ninth grader so please don't get too technical.
Now that you're a freshman in college we should be able to discuss this on a more technical level. :)

P.S. Welcome to Physics Forums.
 

What is momentum in a science experiment?

Momentum is a measure of the amount of motion an object has. It is calculated by multiplying an object's mass by its velocity. In a science experiment, momentum can be used to analyze the movement of objects and understand how forces act on them.

How is momentum conserved in a science experiment?

In a closed system, momentum is always conserved. This means that the total momentum of all objects involved in the experiment will remain constant, regardless of any collisions or interactions between the objects. This is known as the law of conservation of momentum.

What is the equation for calculating momentum in a science experiment?

The equation for momentum is: momentum (p) = mass (m) x velocity (v). This means that the greater the mass or velocity of an object, the greater its momentum will be.

Why is momentum an important concept in science experiments?

Momentum is an important concept in science experiments because it helps us understand how objects move and interact with each other. By studying momentum, we can make predictions about the behavior of objects and analyze the effects of different forces on their motion.

How can momentum be manipulated in a science experiment?

Momentum can be manipulated in a science experiment by changing the mass or velocity of an object. This can be done by using different materials for the object or altering the force applied to it. Additionally, momentum can be transferred between objects through collisions or interactions, which can also be manipulated in an experiment.

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