UIUC Physics
Lecture Demonstration
Database
Home...
Demo # 482
More info...
.
.
.
Ballistic Pendulum with clay ball and block
Description:
A clay ball is thrown at the side of a block which is covered in nails. The ball sticks and, due to conservation of momentum, the ball and box swing together in the direction that the ball was originally going. The amplitude of the resulting oscillation is measured and used to calculate the original speed of the clay ball.
Physics Concept:
- Mechanics
- Linear Momentum
- Conservation of Linear Momentum
The demonstration takes about 1 minute to perform.