Proving Conservation of Momentum

[WillTheBassis]

Hey guys I've a theory that my physics lecturer wants me to prove, basically I have to prove the conservation of momentum which is easy enough but it's in a specific situation which happens to be a bouncing ball.

So obviously I know relevant SUVAT equations and I know how to work out change in momentum in collisions and other situations and as well as working it out I have to set up and show the experiment.

So the initial velocity of the ball will be 0ms^-1 and I can measure the mass of the ball quite easily I can also measure the impact velocity using light gates but I then run into a problem can I assume that the velocity of the floor is 0ms^-1 and what do I do for the mass?

And help you guys could offer would be fantastic because I've hit a little bit of a rut with it. Thanking you all in advance. :)

 

[Ratch]

WillTheBasis,

It appears to me that before you can prove the conservation of momentum, you first have to prove the conservation of mass and the conservation of energy. As far as I know, their working mechanism is unknown, but they have never been found to be wrong. They are too basic to prove, unless you have something like a quantum theory explanation that defines what is happening.

Ratch