This is to demonstrate the principle of conservation of momentum and showing
that momentum is a vector quantity having both magnitude and direction.
The apparatus comprises
: A
curved wooden runway 275 mm long and 65 mm high at its highest point, having a groove 8 mm wide down
which a steel ball is
rolled. An index mark at the top of the runway is provided so that the ball may be rolled from
a constant height ensuring
reproducibility of results. A metal plate 100 mm square is attached to its lower end which
enables the apparatus to be fixed
to the edge of a bench by a G-clamp. The plate also has a slot for the attachment
of object sphere support. An object sphere
support is an adjustable device which attaches to the mounting plate of
the runway and will support a ball either exactly
opposite the end of the runway for head on collision or slightly
offset for oblique impact. Supplied with a plumb bob for
making the plumb line and Two spheres (steel ball bearings
16 mm diameters).
