Conservation of Momentum - Transfer of Momentum

Items needed

Drop all three balls from the same height so the students can see how high they bounce.

Place the tennis ball on top of the basketball and drop the balls at the same time. Be careful when doing this. the momentum of the basket ball will be transferred to the tennis ball. the tennis ball will move with great velocity. The basket ball will bounce to a much lower height. Its momentum has been transferred to the tennis ball. Reverse the balls. the basketball will not gain much in height as there is little momentum from the tennis ball to transfer to it

Try this with the soccer ball and basketball, the soccer ball and tennis ball. Try the combination of basketball on the bottom soccer ball in the middle and tennis ball on top. Be careful as the tennis ball will have the momentum of the soccer ball and basketball transferred to it. It will move with great velocity.

Note the tennis ball will go at high speed and to great heights. You may wish to do this in the gym or out side. Take care not to hit students with the ball

Conservation of Momentum - Transfer of Momentum 2

Items needed:

2 large balls such as a basketball or playground ball

Procedure

Place one on the balls on the ground. Roll the other ball at it and hit the still ball. Momentum for the moving ball will transfer momentum to the still ball. the fast moving ball will slow up and the still ball will roll. the amount of momentum transferred from the fast moving ball will equal the momentum transferred to the still ball.

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