Experiment Mi-01
Velocity of a Softball
Description: A
cardboard box is filled with loose packing so that an entering softball makes
an inelastic collision. The ball is thrown into the box and the recoil distance
of the box, as it slides along the table, is measured. The masses of the box and
the ball are determined by weighing the box with and without the ball. The kinetic
friction force is measured by dragging the box over the same region of the table
and measuring the force required to move the box with constant velocity. The acceleration
is determined from the measured kinetic friction force and the mass of the box
and ball. The velocity after the collision is determined from the relation between
velocity, acceleration, and displacement. By applying consevation of linear momentum,
we can subsequently determine the initial velocity of the softball.
Softball
is thrown into the cardboard box and the distance it moves is measured.
Materials: cardboard
box, loose packing material, softball, force meter, ruler, scale
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