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I'm doing a home experiment but it's not going very well.

I'm pushing coins on a table.

I'm taking the time for how long it takes coin A to hit coin B and then I divide it by the time between them to find the velocity of coin A.

I say that the velocity times the mass of coin A should equal the velocity of coin B times its mass plus the velocity of coin A times it's mass (after).

My calculation isn't making any sense. Is this experiment not possible with friction on the table? Do I need the exact velocity when it hits?

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Yes you do need the exact velocity when it hits, and the exact velocities when they shoot off. Theres a fair bit of friction involved, therefore it can be tricky to calculate the velocity. Also momentum is conserved along a direction. Did you take that into account?

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  • $\begingroup$ Yes. Looks like I have to botch this experiment :( $\endgroup$
    – user3200098
    Commented Mar 31, 2014 at 19:51

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