02/25/2009

Momentum

The linear momentum of an object of
Chapter 6 mass m moving with a velocity v is
defined as the product of the mass and
the velocity
Momentum and Collisions
p= m v

S I Units are kg m / s

V ector quantity, the direction of the
momentum is the same as the v elocity’s

Momentum components Impulse

p x = mvx and p y = mv y
In order to change the momentum of an
object, a force must be applied

Applies to two-dimensional motion
two-

The time rate of change of momentum of an
object is equal to the net force acting on it

∆p m( v f − vi )

Fnet = = = ma
∆t ∆t

Gives an alternative statement of Newton’s second
law

Impulse cont. Impulse--Momentum Theorem

Impulse

When a single, constant force acts on
The theorem states that the impulse
the object acting on the object is equal to the

∆p = F ∆t change in momentum of the object

F∆t is defined as the impulse
F∆t = ∆p

V ector quantity, the direction is the same
If the force is not constant, use the
as the direction of the force average force applied

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Average Force in Impulse Average Force cont.

The av erage force
The impulse imparted by a force during
can be thought of as the time interval ∆t is equal to the area
the constant force under the force-
force-time graph from the
that w ould giv e the
same impulse to the
beginning to the end of the time
object in the time interval
interv al as the actual
Or, to the average force multiplied by
time--v arying force
time the time interval
giv es in the interv al

Impulse Applied to Auto

Collisions Air Bags

The most important factor is the
The air bag
increases the time of
collision time or the time it takes the the collision
person to come to a rest
It w ill also absorb

This w ill reduce the chance of dying in a some of the energy
car crash from the body

Ways to increase the time
It w ill spread out the
area of contact

S eat belts
decreases the

Air bags pressure

helps prevent
penetration wounds

Conservation of Momentum Conservation of Momentum

Momentum in an isolated system in
which a collision occurs is conserved

A collision may be the result of physical
contact betw een tw o objects

“Contact” may also arise from the
electrostatic interactions of the electrons in
the surface atoms of the bodies

An isolated system w ill hav e not external
forces

The principle of conservation of
momentum states when no external
forces act on a system consisting of two
objects that collide with each other, the
total momentum of the system before
the collision is equal to the total
momentum of the system after the
collision

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Conservation of Momentum, General Form of Conservation

cont. of Momentum

Mathematically:m v + m v = m v + m v
The total momentum of an isolated
1 1i 2 2i 1 1f 2 2f

Momentum is conserv ed for the sy stem of system of objects is conserved
objects regardless of the nature of the forces

The system includes all the objects
interacting w ith each other
between the objects

Assumes only internal forces are acting
during the collision

Can be generalized to any number of
objects

Types of Collisions More Types of Collisions

Momentum is conserved in any collision
Elastic collision

Inelastic collisions
both momentum and kinetic energy are

Kinetic energy is not conserv ed conserv ed
Some of the kinetic energy is converted into


other types of energy such as heat, sound,
Actual collisions
work to permanently deform an object
Most collisions fall betw een elastic and

P erfectly inelastic collisions occur w hen the perfectly inelastic collisions
objects stick together

Not all of the KE is necessarily lost

More About Perfectly Inelastic Some General Notes About

Collisions Collisions

When tw o objects
Momentum is a vector quantity
stick together after
Direction is important
the collision, they

Be sure to hav e the correct signs
hav e undergone a
perfectly inelastic
collision

Conserv ation of
momentum
becomes
m 1v 1i + m2 v 2 i = (m 1 + m2 )v f

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More About Elastic Collisions Elastic Collisions, cont.

Both momentum and kinetic energy are
A simpler equation can be used in place
conserved of the KE equation

Typically have two unknowns v 1i − v 2 i = −( v1f − v 2f )
m1v 1i + m2 v 2 i = m1v 1f + m2 v 2 f
1 1 1 1
m1 v12i + m2 v 22i = m1v 21f + m2 v 22f
2 2 2 2

Solve the equations simultaneously

Problem Solving for One - Sketches for Collision

Dimensional Collisions Problems

Set up a coordinate axis and define the
Draw “before” and
velocities with respect to this axis “after” sketches

It is conv enient to make your axis coincide
Label each object
w ith one of the initial v elocities
include the direction
of velocity

In your sketch, draw all the velocity
keep track of
vectors with labels including all the subscripts
given information

Sketches for Perfectly Inelastic Problem Solving for One-

One-
Collisions Dimensional Collisions, cont.

The objects stick
Write the expressions for the
together momentum of each object before and

Include all the after the collision
v elocity directions

Remember to include the appropriate signs

The “after” collision

Write an expression for the
total
combines the
masses momentum before and after the
collision

Remember the momentum of the system is
w hat is conserv ed

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Problem Solving for One-
One-
Dimensional Collisions, final

If the collision
is inelastic, solve the
momentum equation for the unknown

Remember, KE is not conserv ed

If the collision
is elastic, you can use
the KE equation (or the simplified one)
to solve for two unknowns
Glancing Collisions

The “after” v elocities hav e x and y
components

Momentum is conserv ed in the x direction
and in the y direction

Apply separately to each direction
Problem Solving for Two-
Two-
Dimensional Collisions, cont

Write expressions for the x and y
Solve for the unknown quantities
components of the momentum of each
object before and after the collision

Write expressions for the total
momentum before and after the
collision in the x-
x -direction

Repeat for the y-
y -direction
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Glancing Collisions

For a general collision of two objects in
three-dimensional space, the
three-
conservation of momentum principle
implies that the total momentum of the
system in each direction is conserved

m1v1ix + m2v 2ix = m1v 1fx + m 2v 2fx and
m1v1iy + m2v 2iy = m1v 1fy + m 2v 2fy

Use subscripts for identifying the object,
initial and final, and components
Problem Solving for Two-
Two-
Dimensional Collisions

Set up coordinate axes and define your
velocities with respect to these axes

It is conv enient to choose the x axis to
coincide w ith one of the initial v elocities

In your sketch, draw and label all the
velocities and include all the given
information
Problem Solving for Two-
Two-
Dimensional Collisions, final

If the collision is inelastic, additional
information is probably required

If the collision is perfectly inelastic, the
final v elocities of the tw o objects is the
same

If the collision is elastic, use the KE
equations to help solv e for the unknow ns
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Rocket Propulsion Rocket Propulsion, cont.

The operation of a rocket depends on
the law of conservation of momentum
as applied to a system, where the
system is the rocket plus its ejected fuel

This is different than propulsion on the
earth w here tw o objects exert forces on
each other

road on car

train on track

The rocket is accelerated as a result of
the thrust of the exhaust gases

This represents the inverse of an
inelastic collision

Momentum is conserv ed

Kinetic Energy is increased (at the expense
of the stored energy of the rocket fuel)

Rocket Propulsion Rocket Propulsion

The initial mass of the rocket is M + ∆m
The rocket’s mass is M

M is the mass of the rocket
The mass of the fuel, ∆m, has been ejected

m is the mass of the fuel
The rocket’s speed has increased to v + ∆v

The initial v elocity of the rocket is v

Rocket Propulsion, final Thrust of a Rocket

The basic equation for rocket propulsion is:
The thrust isthe force exerted on the
M  rocket by the ejected exhaust gases
vf − v i = ve ln i 

 Mf 
The instantaneous thrust is given by

Mi is the initial mass of the rocket plus fuel ∆v ∆M

Mf is the final mass of the rocket plus any Ma = M = ve
∆t ∆t
remaining fuel

The thrust increases as the exhaust speed

The speed of the rocket is proportional to the
exhaust speed increases and as the burn rate (∆M/∆t)
increases