Module 6

Linear Momentum, 𝒑
– tendency of a moving body to continue moving and the difficulty it
encounters in slowing down to rest.

𝒑 = 𝒎𝒗
𝐦
 SI Unit: 𝐤𝐠 𝐬 (kilogram-meter per second)
 Direction: direction of the velocity of the object.
 By components:

𝒑𝒙 = 𝒎𝒗𝒙 𝒑𝒚 = 𝒎𝒗𝒚 𝒑𝒛 = 𝒎𝒗𝒛

𝑑𝑣
Since 𝑎 = , then Newton’s 2nd Law (Law of Acceleration) can be written as:
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑣 𝒅 𝒅𝒑
𝑭 = 𝑚𝑎 = 𝑚 = 𝒎𝒗 =
𝑑𝑡 𝒅𝒕 𝒅𝒕
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 Newton’s 2nd Law
 By definition, Newton’s 2nd Law:
“When a net external force acts on a body of mass m, the
body accelerates in the direction of the net force Fnet.”

(𝑭 = 𝒎𝒂)
 In terms of the momentum: Newton’s 2nd Law can be
stated as:
“The net force acting on a body is equal to the time rate of
change of momentum of the body.”
𝒅𝒑
(𝑭 = )
𝒅𝒕
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 Impulse, J
– product of the net force and time interval
– an impelling force that acts suddenly and produces motion.

𝑱 = 𝑭∆𝒕
𝐦
 SI Unit: 𝐍𝐬 (Newton-second) or 𝐤𝐠 (kilogram-meter per
𝐬
second)

𝑱 = ∆𝒑 = 𝒑𝟐 − 𝒑𝟏
 Impulse-momentum theorem:
“The change in momentum of a body during a time interval is equal
to the net force that acts on the body during the time interval.”

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 Impulse, J
If you were in a car that was out of control and had to
choose between hitting a haystack or a concrete wall

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 Momentum vs. Kinetic Energy
Mathematically:
 momentum – proportional to the velocity
 kinetic energy – proportional to the square of the speed.
𝒑𝟐
𝑲𝑬 =
𝟐𝒎
Physical Difference
o Which is easier to catch: a 0.50 kg ball moving at 4.0 m/s? or a
0.10 kg ball moving at 20 m/s?

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Conservation of Momentum

𝒎𝟏 𝒗𝟏 + 𝒎𝟐 𝒗𝟐 = 𝒎𝟏 𝒗′𝟏 + 𝒎𝟐 𝒗𝟐 ′

In terms of initial and

final momenta:

′
𝒑𝟏 + 𝒑𝟐 = 𝒑𝟏 + 𝒑𝟐 ′

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Conservation of Momentum
 From Newton’s 3rd Law

𝐹1𝑜𝑛2 = 𝐹 and 𝐹2𝑜𝑛1 = −𝐹

 From Impulse-Momentum Theorem:
Body1: 𝑑𝑝 = 𝐹2𝑜𝑛1 𝑑𝑡

𝒑′𝟏 − 𝒑𝟏 = −𝑭𝒅𝒕

Body2: 𝑑𝑝 = 𝐹1𝑜𝑛2 𝑑𝑡

𝒑′𝟐 − 𝒑𝟐 = 𝑭𝒅𝒕
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Conservation of Momentum

′ ′
−(𝑝1 − 𝑝1 ) = 𝑝2 − 𝑝2
′ ′
𝒑 𝟏 + 𝒑𝟐 = 𝒑𝟏 + 𝒑𝟐
Initial Momentum Final Momentum
(Before Collision) (After Collision)

Conservation of Momentum
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Conservation of Momentum
The internal energy is neglected
during collision

𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑡 = 𝐹𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑗 + 𝐹𝑗𝑜𝑛𝑖 = 0

dp  

dt
 F  F int  F ext

since
then dp
=  Fext F int 0
dt
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 Conservation of Momentum
 If the net external force is zero then we get

𝒅𝒑
𝒅𝒕
= 𝟎 → ∆𝒑 = 𝟎 (𝑝 = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡)

Principle of Conservation of Momentum

“If the net external force acting on an isolated system is
zero, the total momentum of the system is constant.”

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 Collisions
– any strong interaction between objects that lasts in a relatively
short time.
 Forces between the interacting bodies are much larger than any
external forces.
 Total momentum of the system is conserved (in any type of
collision).

Principle of Conservation of Momentum

If 𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 0, then
𝑝𝑛𝑒𝑡 (𝑏𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛) = 𝑝𝑛𝑒𝑡(𝑎𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛)

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 Types of Collision
 Elastic Collision – collision wherein the forces between
bodies are also conservative.
– both momentum and kinetic energy is conserved.

 Inelastic Collision – collision where the total kinetic

energy decreases after collision.
– only the momentum is conserved.

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Elastic Collision
a. A moving ball strikes a ball at rest.

b. Two moving balls collide head-on

c. Two balls moving in the same direction collide.

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Elastic Collision (Head-on)

 Momentum of the system is conserved:

𝒎𝟏 𝒗𝟏 + 𝒎𝟐 𝒗𝟐 = 𝒎𝟏 𝒗′𝟏 + 𝒎𝟐 𝒗′𝟐
 Kinetic energy of the system is conserved:
𝟏 𝟐
𝟏 𝟐
𝟏 𝟐 𝟏 𝟐
𝒎𝟏 𝒗𝟏 + 𝒎𝟐 𝒗𝟐 = 𝒎𝟏 𝒗′𝟏 + 𝒎𝟐 𝒗′𝟐
𝟐 𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
 Hence, the velocity of the body before and after the collision
are related by:
𝒗𝟏 − 𝒗𝟐 = −(𝒗′ 𝟏 − 𝒗′ 𝟐 )
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Elastic Collision (Head-on)
 We rewrite the cons. of kinetic energy to

m1  v1  v'1  v1  v'1  = m2  v2'  v2  v2'  v2 

substitute the cons. of momentum to this equation and
solve for the final velocities

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 Inelastic Collision (Head-on)

 Only the momentum is conserved:

𝒎𝟏 𝒗𝟏 + 𝒎𝟐 𝒗𝟐 = (𝒎𝟏 +𝒎𝟐 )𝒗′
 For a completely (perfectly) inelastic collision, the two bodies become coupled
together after collision. Then their final velocities:
𝒗𝟏′ = 𝒗𝟐′ = 𝒗′
Hence,
′
𝒎𝟏 𝒗𝟏 + 𝒎𝟐 𝒗𝟐
𝒗 =
𝒎𝟏 + 𝒎𝟐
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Collision in 2 or 3-Dimensions
In the x – components:
𝒎𝟏 𝒗𝟏𝒙 + 𝒎𝟐 𝒗𝟐𝒙 = 𝒎𝟏 𝒗′𝟏𝒙 + 𝒎𝟐 𝒗′𝟐𝒙

𝑚1 𝑣1 = 𝑚1 𝑣′1 cos 𝜃′1 + 𝑚2 𝑣′2 cos 𝜃′2

In the y – components:
𝒎𝟏 𝒗𝟏𝒚 + 𝒎𝟐 𝒗𝟐𝒚 = 𝒎𝟏 𝒗′𝟏𝒚 + 𝒎𝟐 𝒗′𝟐𝒚

To solve this write the conservation of 0 = 𝑚1 𝑣′1 𝑠in 𝜃′1 − 𝑚2 𝑣 ′ 2 𝑠in 𝜃 ′ 2

momentum along x and along y.

𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟐 𝟏 𝟐
If elastic collision, kinetic energy of 𝒎𝟏 𝒗𝟏 𝟐 + 𝒎𝟐 𝒗𝟐 𝟐 = 𝒎𝟏 𝒗′𝟏 + 𝒎𝟐 𝒗′𝟐
𝟐 𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
the system is conserved:

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 Coefficient of Restitution
𝒗′𝟐 − 𝒗′𝟏
𝒆=
𝒗 𝟏 − 𝒗𝟐
(i) For elastic collision, initial velocity is equal to the final
velocity.
𝒆=𝟏
(ii) For inelastic collision, initial velocity is not zero but
always less than to the final velocity.
𝟎<𝒆<𝟏
(ii) For perfectly inelastic collision, the colliding bodies do
not separate out but move with the same velocity.
𝒆=𝟎
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Problem 6.1
 A golf ball of mass 0.045 kg is moving in the +x-
direction with speed of 9.0 m/s,

and a baseball of mass 0.145 kg is moving the –y-

direction with a speed of 7.0 m/s.

 What is the total momentum of the system consisting

of the two balls?

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Problem 6.2
A 0.145 kg baseball is struck by a bat.
Just before impact, the ball is travelling
horizontally to the right at 50.0 m/s,

and it leaves the bat travelling to the left at an

angle 30° with speed of 65.0 m/s.

If the ball and bat are in contact for 1.75 ms,
find the horizontal and vertical components of
the average force on the ball.

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Problem 6.3
 On a frictionless air table, puck A (with mass 0.250 kg)
is moving toward puck B (with mass 0.350 kg), which
is initially at rest.
 After collision, puck A has a velocity 0.120 m/s to the
left, and puck B has velocity 0.650 m/s to the right.
(a) What is the speed of puck A before collision?
(b) Calculate the change of the kinetic energy of the
system that occurs
during collision.

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 Problem 6.4
 Two ice skaters, Daniel (mass 65.0 kg) and Rebecca
(mass 45.0 kg), are practicing.
 Daniel stops to tie his shoelace and, while at rest, is
struck by Rebecca, who is moving 13 m/s at before
she collides with him.

 After the collision, Rebecca has a

velocity of magnitude 8m/s at an
angle of 53.1° from her initial
direction. Both skaters move on the
frictionless, horizontal surface of
the rink.
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Problem 6.4
(a) What are the magnitude and direction of Daniel’s
velocity after the collision?
(b) What is the change in total kinetic energy of the two
skaters as a result of the collision?

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Problem 6.5
 A 90 kg fullback moving east with a speed of 5.0 m/s
is tackled by a 95 kg opponent running north at 3.0
m/s.?

(a) If the collision is perfectly inelastic,

calculate the velocity of the players
just after the tackle.

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Problem 6.6
A 12.0-g rifle bullet is fired with a speed of 380 m/s
into a ballistic pendulum with mass 6.00 kg, suspended
from a cord 70.0 cm long. Compute
(a) the vertical height through which the pendulum
rises,
(b) the initial kinetic energy of the bullet, and
(c) the kinetic energy of the
bullet and pendulum
immediately after the bullet
becomes embedded in the
pendulum.
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 Problem 6.7
 Spheres A (mass 0.020 kg), B
(mass 0.030 kg), and C (mass
0.050 kg) are approaching
the origin as it slide on a
frictionless air table.

 The initial velocities of A and B are given in the figure.

 All three spheres arrive at the origin at the same time
and stick together.
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 Problem 6.7
(a) What must the x-and y-
components of the initial
velocity of C be if all the three
objects are to end up moving at
0.50 m/s in the +x-direction
after the collision?

(b) If C has the velocity found in part a, what is the change

in the kinetic energy of the system of three spheres as a
result of the collision?
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 Problem 6.8
 You and your friends are doing physics experiments on a
frozen pond that serves as a frictionless, horizontal
surface.
 Sam, with mass 80.0 kg, is given a push and slides
eastward. Abigail, with mass 50.0 kg, is sent sliding
northward.
 They collide, and after the collision Sam is moving at 37.0°
north of east with a speed of 6.00 m/s and Abigail is
moving at 23.0° south of east with a speed of 9.00 m/s.
(a) What was the speed of each person before the collision?
(b) By how much did the total kinetic energy of the two
people decrease during the collision?
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Problem 6.9
 A billiard ball moving at 5.00 m/s strikes a stationary
ball of the same mass.
 After the collision, the first ball moves, at 4.33 m/s, at
an angle of 30.0° with respect to the original line of
motion.
 Assuming an elastic collision (and ignoring friction
and rotational motion), find the struck ball’s velocity
after the collision.

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Problem 6.10
 You and your friends are doing physics experiments
on a frozen pond that serves as a frictionless,
horizontal surface.
 Sam, Amy, and Abigail are sliding on the horizontal
surface and approaching at a point of the pond.
 Sam, with mass 80.0 kg, is given a push and slides
eastward at 5m/s.
 Abigail, with mass 50.0 kg, is sent sliding 3 m/s
northward.
 They collide, and after the collision they stick
together.
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Problem 6.10
(a) What must be the initial velocity of Amy, with mass
60.0 kg, if they are to end up moving at 7 m/s 30°
North of East after the collision?

(b) By how much did the total kinetic energy of the three
people decrease during the collision?

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 Problem 6.11
Two pucks on a horizontal air
table of the same mass (m1 =
m2 = 6.0 g) have attracting
magnets.
 They are initially positioned
very far from each other so
that no attraction occurs.
 The two were given a push and collide. The pucks end up
moving at 1.40 m/s, 32° above the –x–axis after the
collision as shown.
 Initially, the first puck slides with a velocity 1.11 m/s due
west.
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 Problem 6.12
(a) What is the initial velocity
(magnitude and
direction) of the second
puck? (6 points)

(b) What is the change in kinetic energy of the system of

two pucks as a result of the collision? (4 points)

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 Problem 6.13
A 5.00-kg chunk of ice is sliding at on the floor of an ice-
covered valley when it collides with and sticks to
another 5.00-kg chunk of ice that is initially at rest.
Since the valley is icy, there is no friction.
After the collision, how high above the valley floor will
the combined chunks go?

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Problem 6.14
An archer stands at rest on
frictionless ice and fires a 0.500-
kg arrow horizontally at 50.0
m/s.

The combined mass of the

archer and bow is 60.0 kg.

With what velocity does the

archer move across the ice after
firing the arrow?
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 Problem 6.15
 In a shipping company distribution center, an open cart of mass
50.0 kg is rolling to the left at a speed of 5.00 m/s. You can ignore
friction between the cart and the floor. A 15.0-kg package slides
down a chute that is inclined at 37° from the horizontal and
leaves the end of the chute with a speed of 3.00 m/s.
 The package lands in the cart and they roll off together.
 If the lower end of the chute is a
vertical distance of 4.00 m above the
bottom of the cart, what are
(a) the speed of the package just before
it lands in the cart and
(b) the final speed of the cart?

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 Problem 6.16
 Consider a frictionless track ABC as shown in figure. A
block of mass m1=5.00 kg is released from A.
 It makes a head-on elastic collision at B with a block of
mass m2 = 10.0 kg that is initially at rest.
 Calculate the maximum height to which m1 rises after
the collision.

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 Problem 6.17
 An 8.00-g bullet is fired into a 250-g block that is initially at rest at
the edge of a table of height 1.00 m.
 The bullet remains in the block, and after the impact the block
lands 2.00 m from the bottom of the table.
 Determine the initial speed of the bullet.

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 Center of Mass
– a point in the body at which all the mass may be
considered to be concentrated.

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 Center of Mass
General expression of the center of mass:

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 Center of Mass
Consider a mechanical system consisting of a pair of
particles that have different masses and are connected
by a light, rigid rod.

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 Center of Mass
 For point masses, along x-, y- and z-components:

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 Continuous Distribution
For ordinary objects such as a baseball bat, contains so
many particles (atoms)

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 Example 1
A system consists of three particles located as shown in
the figure below. Find the center of mass of the system.
Note: 𝑚1 = 𝑚2 = 1.0 𝑘𝑔 and 𝑚3 = 2.0 𝑘𝑔.

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 Example 2
(a) Show that the center of mass of a rod of mass M and
length L lies midway between its ends, assuming the
rod has a uniform mass per unit length.

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 Example 2
(b) Suppose a rod is nonuniform such that its mass per
unit length varies linearly with x according to the
expression 𝝀 = 𝜶𝒙, where 𝛼 is a constant. Find the x
coordinate of the center of mass as a fraction of L.

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