1. Car Crash Lab

2. Define momentum
momentum = mass X velocity

3. Materials: Gutter support Two gutters (one long, one short) Stop watch
Meter stick
6 toy cars
Triple-beam balance

4. Roles Recorder Timer Car technician Meter stick tech.
Find mass of cars
Release car (say go)
Meter stick tech.
Measure distance of ramp
Measure distance of crashed car

5. Different Cars with different masses
Ramp Cars
Measure in cm
Same Car Every Time
Crash Car

6. Different Cars with different masses
Ramp Car
Measure in cm
Same Car Every Time
Crash Car

7. Different Cars with different masses
Ramp Cars
Measure in cm
Same Car Every Time
Crash Car

8. Different Cars with different masses
Ramp Cars
Measure in cm
Same Car Every Time
Crash Car

9. Different Cars with different masses
Ramp Cars
Measure in cm
Same Car Every Time
Crash Car
Which car had the most momentum? How do you know?
The distance car traveled the furthest.

10. Hypothesis
If I increase the mass of car 1 then the distance traveled by the crash car will (increase or decrease) because………….

11. Diagram/Procedures:
Write on notebook paper or try to squeeze in the space.

12. Data Table: Time (sec) Distance of Crash Car Type of ramp car
Time (sec)
Distance of Crash Car
Type of ramp car
Mass of ramp car
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Ave. time
Ave. distance 1 2 3 4 5

13. Velocity of ramp car (distance of ramp car / time of ramp car)
Calculations:
Velocity of ramp car (distance of ramp car / time of ramp car)
Distance ramp car traveled (cm) (same every time)
Ave Time of ramp car (s)
Velocity (cm/s) 1 2 3 4 5

14. Find the momentum of ramp car 1-5, (p=m x v)
Calculations Cont.
Find the momentum of ramp car 1-5, (p=m x v)
Mass of Ramp Car (g)
Velocity ramp car (cm/s)
Momentum (g x cm/s) 1 2 3 4 5

15. Conclusions/Questions:
1. Fill in the following Chart, comparing the momentum of each ramp car with the distance that the crash car moved
Momentum of ramp car (g x cm/s)
Average distance crash car traveled (cm) 1 2 3 4 5