Experiment 203 Moment of Inertia

Department of Physics, College, Mapua Institute of Technology

Keywords:
Law of Conservation of Momentum
Collision
Momentum
Inelastic Collision
Elastic Collision
Projectile
Law of Conservation of Energy
Projectile Motion

Abstract. This experiment aims to determine the mass moment of inertia of a disk and a ring, and
compare the moment of inertia of a solid disk rotated at two different axes: at the center and along
its diameter.

aims to validate, as well as to prove the law of conservation of momentum. With the use of this
principle the group will be able to determine the initial velocity of the steel ball. For the ballistic
method, a ballistic pendulum was used where the ball is launched towards the pendulum which
causes an inelastic collision. Another method, called the trajectory method, was also used where the
steel ball is launched as a projectile. By analysing the results that they have computed from their
data, they concluded that momentum is conserved in collision and energy is conserved in the
projectile. It is concluded that it is much more accurate to use the ballistic pendulum method for
determining the initial velocity of an object than using projectile method.

Introduction
The law of momentum conservation can be stated as follows: For a collision occurring between
object 1 and object 2 in an isolated system, the total momentum of the two objects before the
collision is equal to the total momentum of the two objects after the collision [1,4]. That is, the
momentum lost by object 1 is equal to the momentum gained by object 2.
The above statement tells us that the total momentum of a collection of objects (a system) is
conserved - that is, the total amount of momentum is a constant or unchanging value.[2]
The conservation of momentum is reflected in operations as simple as the recoil of a rifle when it
is fired, and in those as complex as the propulsion of a rocket through space. In accordance with the
conservation of momentum, the momentum of a system must be the same after it undergoes an
operation as it was before the process began. Before firing, the momentum of a rifle and bullet is
zero, and therefore, the rifle-bullet system must return to that same zero-level of momentum after it
is fired. Thus, the momentum of the bullet must be matchedand "cancelled" within the system
under studyby a corresponding backward momentum.
When a person shooting a gun pulls the trigger, it releases the bullet, which flies out of the barrel
toward the target. The bullet has mass and velocity, and it clearly has momentum; but this is only
half of the story. At the same time it is fired, the rifle produces a "kick," or sharp jolt, against the
shoulder of the person who fired it. This backward kick, with a velocity in the opposite direction of
the bullet's trajectory, has a momentum exactly the same as that of the bullet itself: hence,
momentum is conserved.
Objectives. To use the principles of conservation of energy and momentum in determining the
velocity of the steel ball using a ballistic pendulum, and validate the initial velocity of the steel ball
through projectile motion.
Methodology
In acquiring the initial velocity of the steel ball using the ballistic method, the ballistic pendulum
is used where the ball will be placed within the launcher while ensuring the pendulum is
horizontally set. After the ball is launched an angle will be shown on the angle indicator on the
ballistic pendulum. The initial and final height of the ball is then measured with the help of the
angle indicated on the ballistic pendulum. It is important to ensure that the ballistic pendulum is on
an even surface and is not aimed to fire at a person which may cause accidents.
On the second part of the experiment where the trajectory method is used, the ball will then be
launched with the launcher of the ballistic pendulum without the obstruction of the pendulum. Since
the ball will follow a projectile motion, the initial velocity can be acquired by determining the
vertical and horizontal distance of the ball form the launcher. To remove the pendulum, the arm is
simply moved upward for the ball to fire horizontally. The launcher is then placed on an edge of the
table where the vertical distance is measured. After firing, the distance of the ball is measured for
the horizontal distance.
Results and Discussion
During the use of the ballistic method when acquiring the initial velocity of the ball, the total
momentum energy is conserved due to the law of conservation of momentum which states that
momentum will always be conserved whether the collision that occurred is elastic or inelastic. In
such case, the total energy of the system is conserved by converting the initial kinetic energy to
potential energy therefore the total energy is conserved throughout the experiment.
On the second part of the experiment, where the trajectory method is used, the initial velocity is
acquired using the principles of projectile motion. By firing the steel ball in a horizontal trajectory,
the distance of the steel ball to the launcher is measured and then the initial velocity is computed
using such data. This is done to compare the results of both methods used and then determining the
accuracy of each method. Needless to say, the ballistic method is much more accurate in
determining the initial velocity of the ball given that the trajectory method is much more susceptible
to human error due to the inaccurate path the ball would take and when obtaining the horizontal
displacement of the ball. On the other hand, the only unknown when using the ballistic method
would be the initial height of the ball before and after launching which lessens the sources of error
when acquiring the initial velocity of the steel ball.
Answers to Guide Questions.
1. If the ball used is half the mass with the same initial speed, the result would have an
decrease in its height compared to its original height.
2. When the launcher is placed on a higher table top the initial speed of the ball would still
be the same due to the principle of projectile motion where the initial velocity of a
projectile is always constant despite its height. The change occurs, however, at the final
velocity.
3. Given:
m1=0.05 kg
 m2=5 kg
y=0.10 m

v 1= ( 0.050.05kg+5kg kg ) 2 ( 9.81 ) ( 0.10 m )=141.4721 ms

The initial velocity of the bullet is 141.47 [m/s].
Conclusion
With the help of the law of conservation of momentum, we know that momentum is a conserved
quantity therefore the total momentum in an isolated system is constant making so that external
forces, such as air resistance affecting the changes in determining the total momentum. Along with
the total momentum, the total energy is conserved as well whether the collision done is elastic or
inelastic, which is also stated by the law of momentum. The objectives are also met where the initial
velocity acquired on the ballistic method is confirmed by the trajectory method where the percent
difference is within the parameters given, proving the data accurate.

Recommendations
One of the main source of error in this experiment is the difference of the acquired initial velocity
on the ballistic method and the trajectory method. Since the initial velocity must be equivalent on
both methods the difference is may be due to the incorrect initial and final height measurement
during the ballistic method or the inaccurate measurement of the horizontal distance during the
trajectory method. Correctly converting the units is also important as this causes for an inaccurate
data
References
[1] Beiser, Arthur. Physics, 5th ed. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley, 1991.
[2] Conservation of Linear Momentum Information on http://www.scienceclarified.com
[3] Momentum Conservation Principle Information on http://www.physicsclassroom.com/
[4] Suplee, Curt. Everyday Science Explained. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society,
1996.
Appendix
Data Sheet

TABLE 1. Getting the Initial Velocity of the Steel Ball, Ballistic Method
Mass of the Ball, m1=65.875 [ g ] Mass of the Pendulum, m2=243.400 [ g ]
Trial Angle
1 26.5 Initial height of Pendulum: y 1=7.60 [ cm ]

2 26.0 Final Height of Pendulum: y 2=10.52 [ cm ]

3 26.5 Increase in height: y=2.92 [ cm ]

4 26.5
Velocity of the steel ball and
the pendulum collision:
u=75.69 [ ]
cm
s

5 26.5
Velocity of the pendulum
before collision:
v 2=0 [ ]
cm
s

Velocity of the steel ball before v 1=355.36 [ cm ]

Average Angle: 26.4
the collision:

TABLE 2. Getting the Initial Velocity of the Steel Ball, Trajectory Method
Gravitational Constant,
Horizontal
Trial
Distance Height from the reference
y = 88.00 [cm]
1 150.50 [cm] point to the ground:
2 151.00 [cm]
3 149.50 [cm]
4
5
151.00 [cm] Velocity of the steel ball before
150.50 [cm] collision
v 1=355.32 [ ]
cm
s
Average x: 150.50 [cm]

TABLE 2. Getting the Initial Velocity of the Steel Ball, Trajectory Method
Percent Difference 0.0116 %

Computation

Part 1: Getting the Initial Velocity of the Steel Ball, Ballistic Method

Increase in height, y= y 2 y 1=10.52 cm7.60 cm=2.92 cm

( cm
) cm
Velocity of the steel ball after collision, u= 2 gy= 2 981 s ( 2.92 cm )=75.69 s
 ( m1 +m2 )
Velocity of steel ball before collision, v 1= ( 2 gy )
m1

65.875 cm+243.400 cm
65.875 cm ( (
2 981
cm
s ) )
( 2.92 cm ) =355.36
cm
s

Part2: Getting the Initial Velocity of the Steel Ball, Trajectory Method

cm
981
Velocity of the steel ball before collision, v =x
1
g
2y
=150.50
s
2 ( 88.00 cm )
=355.32
cm
s

Difference=
|EV EV |
1 2
x 100=
|355.36 355.32 |
cm
s
cm
s
x 100=0.0116
EV 1+ EV 2 cm cm
2
( 355.36
s
+355.32
2
s
)