course phys 241
Your work on this experiment is good.
For a given field direction and strength, object direction and object mass, the initial speed of the object determines the momentum of the object when it enters the force field. This means that the higher the speed of the object, the more resistant it is to change from the field.
The mass of the object also effects momentum since the momentum formula is p=m*v. The mass of the object plays the same role that the speed plays.
A parallel repelling force on a large mass causes the object to slow, since there is a force acting in the opposite direction. The parallel force acting on the small mass will cause the mass to actually change direction back towards to the opposite force since its momentum was not sufficient to sustain it through the field.
The speed of the object perpendicular to the force will not change. The only possible change in speed will be in the direction parallel to the force. This change in speed will depend totally of the strength of the force, since there is no momentum carrying the object in that direction.
If the field is parallel to the path, and it is attracting, then it will be doing positive work on the object. The objects speed should increase as its path continues through the field.
If the field is parallel to the path, and it is repelling, then it will be doing negative work on the object. The objects speed should decrease as its path continues through the field.