Dynamics

Content
Newton's laws of motion
Linear momentum and its conservation
Learning Outcomes
Candidates should be able to:
(a) state each of Newton's laws of motion.
(b) show an understanding that mass is the property of a body which resists change in motion.
(c) describe and use the concept of weight as the effect of a gravitational field on a mass.
(d) define linear momentum and impulse.
(e) define force as rate of change of momentum.
(f) recall and solve problems using the relationship F = ma, appreciating that force and acceleration
are always in the same direction.
(g) state the principle of conservation of momentum.
(h) apply the principle of conservation of momentum to solve simple problems including elastic and
inelastic interactions between two bodies in one dimension. (Knowledge of the concept of
coefficient of restitution is not required.)
(i) recognise that, for a perfectly elastic collision between two bodies, the relative speed of
approach is equal to the relative speed of separation.
(j) show an understanding that, whilst the momentum of a system is always conserved in
interactions between bodies, some change in kinetic energy usually takes place.
1. Newton's first Iaw of motion
Every body continues to be in a state of rest or to move with uniform veIocity unIess a
resuItant force acts on it.
This law explains what happens to an object when no resultant force acts on it.
Thus all body has a tendency to resist any change in its state of rest or uniform velocity.
2. Mass and Inertia
The inertia of a body is its reIuctance to change its state (Either at rest or uniform
veIocity).
The mass of a body is a measure of its inertia. Hence mass is a property of a body which
resists change in motion.
nertia is proportional to mass.
3. Newton's third Iaw of motion
If a body A exerts a force on body B, then body B wiII exert an equaI and opposite force
on body A.
A pair of action and reaction forces must fulfill all the following conditions:
1. Equal in magnitude
2. Opposite in direction
3. Act on different bodies
4. Same type
Forces always exist in pairs, e.g. when a push is exerted on a body, the body will push back
with the same force in the opposite direction.
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4. Momentum, p
Product of the mass of a body and its veIocity and the direction of momentum is the
same as its veIocity.
t is a vector quantity.
5. Newton's second Iaw of motion
The rate of change of momentum of a body is directIy proportionaI to the resuItant
force that acts on it, and the change in momentum takes pIace in the direction of the
force.
For constant mass, F
R
= ma. The acceleration occurs in the same direction as the
resultant force.
Solving problems involving N2LM for constant mass problems
solate the body to be analysed.
Draw !"" the forces acting #$ it.
dentify a resultant direction (i.e. resultant force or acceleration, which may be zero) and
form an equation with all the forces to give rise to the resultant.
E.g.
To find T, let's isolate the 2 kg mass and draw the forces on it. n this case, there is a
tension, T acting to the right.
Therefore, T = m
2
a
Next, consider the 3 kg mass,
F
R
= m
3
a
20 T = m
3
a
So solving equation (1) & (2): T = 8 N
Solving problems involving N2LM for varying mass problems (use F = v dm/dt)
Force on water = change of
momentum of water per unit time
= mass per unit time velocity change
= (m/t) Av
f water is brought to rest, |Av| = v. f water rebounds with the same speed, |Av| = 2v.
By N3LM, the force #$ the wall is equal and opposite to that on the water, i.e. the magnitude
is the same.
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Force on water
!"#
!$#
$ &' ( &' $) * $ &'
+
F
R
a
3 kg
20 N
T
P=mv
6. ImpuIse
The impuIse of a force acting for a given time intervaI is the product of the force and
the time intervaI, i.e. impuIse = FR
t !
Since F
R
=
t
p
!
!
, therefore F
R

t !
=
p !
. Hence impulse of a force acting for a given time
interval is equal to the change of momentum produced over that interval.
mpulse is the area under the force-time graph.
7. WeightIessness
Weight is the gravitationaI force of the earth on an object.
True Weight
- True weight = mg
- True weightlessness occurs when there is no gravitational field, i.e. g = 0 m s
-2
.
Apparent Weight
- refers to the reading on a weighing scale (i.e. normal reaction acting on the object) or
reading on a spring balance. (i.e. tension in the spring)
- Apparent weightlessness occurs when the resultant force acting on the body is its
weight only.
8. PrincipIe of conservation of momentum
The totaI momentum of a system of interacting particIes remains constant if there is
no resuItant externaI force acting on the system.
n a two particle system, m
1
u
1
+ m
2
u
2
= m
1
v
1
+ m
2
v
2
or m
1
(u
1
v
1
) = m
2
(v
2
u
2
) - (i)
Note total momentum is always conserved for elastic, inelastic or perfectly inelastic
collision.
9. EIastic coIIision
TotaI kinetic energy of the interacting bodies is conserved. Momentum is still and
always conserved.
For a two particle interaction, m
1
u
1
2
+ m
2
u
2
2
= m
1
v
1
2
+ m
2
v
2
2
The equation can be simplified to m
1
(u
1
v
1
)(u
1
+ v
1
) = m
2
(v
2
u
2
)(v
2
+ u
2
) - (ii)
Dividing (ii) by (i),
u
1
+ v
1
= v
2
+ u
2
!u1 - u2 = v2 - v1
i.e. reIative speed of approach = reIative speed of separation. This is another defining
characteristic of an elastic collision.
10. IneIastic coIIision
TotaI kinetic energy of the interacting bodies is not conserved. Momentum is still and
always conserved.
11. PerfectIy ineIastic coIIision
For perfectly inelastic collision, the two bodies stick together after impact, i.e. the final
velocity is the same for both bodies.
m1u1 + m2u2 = (m1 + m2 )v, where v is their common final velocity after collision.
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Note: This expression can only be
used for elastic collision.