If you have two pucks elastically collide on an air table, and then analyze the momentum vector diagram of the situation, you encounter an increase in momentum. What are possible reasons as to why there was a gain of momentum.

Note: Both pucks were pushed from the end of the table, and collided approximately in the middle.

I believe, depending on the force you exert on the two pucks, the puck with the greater force has caused the system to gain momentum.

If you have any other suggestions, or if you think my answer is incorrect please help and explain. I am a bit confused.

Something must be wrong with your measurements. On a frictionless air table, the TOTAL momentum of the two pucks stays the same in any collision, elastic or not. What was initally the faster travelling puck will end up slower after the collision; the other will end up faster.

However there was a gain of momentum in the experiment, so what would that mean, that i put too much force on the pucks?

It would mean that your measurements or your calculationbs were not accurate

Your explanation is partially correct, but let me provide a more detailed explanation.

When analyzing the momentum vector diagram for the situation you described, a gain in momentum is possible for a few reasons:

1. Conservation of momentum: Elastic collisions follow the principle of conservation of momentum, which states that the total momentum before the collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision. In your scenario, if the two pucks were initially at rest and were pushed with different forces, the puck that experienced the greater force would gain more momentum. This is because the change in momentum is directly proportional to the force applied and the duration of the force exerted.

2. Conservation of kinetic energy: In an elastic collision, the total kinetic energy before and after the collision remains constant. If the collision is not perfectly head-on, and one puck imparts some rotational motion to the other, this rotational kinetic energy can be converted back into linear kinetic energy after the collision, causing an overall gain in momentum.

3. Friction or external forces: If there are external forces acting on the system, such as friction between the pucks and the air table, these forces can cause a gain in momentum. Friction, in particular, can transfer momentum from the table to the pucks, resulting in an overall increase in momentum for the system.

It's important to note that the exact reasons for the gain in momentum depend on the specific details of the collision and forces involved. To obtain a more accurate explanation, it would be helpful to consider factors such as the masses of the pucks, the angles at which they collide, and any other external forces acting on the system.

In summary, a gain in momentum after an elastic collision can occur due to the conservation of momentum, conservation of kinetic energy, or the influence of external forces.