PHYS 172: Modern Mechanics Spring 2013

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Lecture 3 - The Momentum Principle Read 2.1-2.6
 TODAY

• Relativity
• Momentum Principle
• Impulse
• Net Force
• Predicting Motion

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 RELATIVITY

Physical laws work in the same way for observers

in uniform motion as for observers at rest.
(=in all inertial reference frames)

v
vavg

The position update formula

! ! !
rf = ri + vavg (t f ! ti )

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 RELATIVITY
Physical laws work in the same way for observers
in uniform motion as for observers at rest.
(=in all inertial reference frames)
! !
vavg vavg

The position update formula

! ! !
rf = ri + vavg (t f ! ti )

Note: all parameters must be measured in respect to the selected reference

frame to predict motion in respect to that reference frame
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 Ball and a cart
lecture demo

Clicker question:
A cart moves at constant velocity on horizontal surface and shoots
a cannon ball straight up. When the cannon ball drops down, it
will land

A)  Back into the cannon

B)  Behind the cannon
C)  In front of the cannon

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 The Momentum Principle
! !
An object moves in a straight line and at constant speed p = ! mv
except to the extent that it interacts with other objects
1
! =
! 2
"v%
1! $ '
# c&

The Momentum Principle Change of momentum is equal to the net force

! ! acting on an object times the duration of the
!p = Fnet !t interaction
•  Assume that F does not change during Δt

F units: N ≡ m ⋅ kg/s2
What is force F? •  measure of interaction. 6
•  defined by the momentum principle. (Newton)
 Impulse

The Momentum Principle Definition of impulse

Note: small Δt
! ! ! Fnet ~ const
!p = Fnet !t Impulse ! Fnet "t

Momentum principle:
The change of the momentum of an object is equal to the net impulse applied to it

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 The principle of superposition
!
Fpush !
! ! Fearth
!p = Fnet !t
Net force

The Superposition Principle:

The net force on an object is the vector sum of all the !
individual forces exerted on it by all other objects Fgravity
Each individual interaction is unaffected by the Ignored
presence of other interacting objects friction!

Definition of net force:

! ! !
Fnet = F1 + F2 + ...

Misconception: need constant force to maintain motion

? Why planets move ? 8
 Clicker question

A planet is attracted to two nearby stars as shown.

Which of the red vectors below represents the net force on the planet?

!
F1 !
Fnet Star 1
A)
!
F2
!
F1 !
! F1
B) Fnet
!
F2
! Planet
! Star 2
F1 F2
!
C) Fnet
!
F2
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 Predictions using the Momentum Principle

The Momentum Principle ! ! ! Update form of the momentum principle

! ! p f ! pi = Fnet "t ! ! !
!p = Fnet !t p f = pi + Fnet !t

Short enough,
p fx , p fy , p fz = pix , piy , piz + Fnet , x , Fnet , y , Fnet , z Δt F~const

For components: p fx = pix + Fnet , x Δt

p fy = piy + Fnet , y Δt
p fz = piz + Fnet , z Δt
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 Constant Gravitational Field
Clicker question #3:
g = 9.8 N/kg (or m/s2 )
Due to the gravity, which components
of the velocity will change?
A)  x, y and z
B) only x and y y
C) only x
D) only y r
F = 0, −mg , 0
E) only z
x
z
p fx = pix + Fnet , x Δt
p fy = piy + Fnet , y Δt
p fz = piz + Fnet 11
, z Δt
 System and surroundings
!
p

system

System: an object for which we calculate momentum (car)

a system can consist of several objects

Surroundings: objects which interact with system (earth, man, air…)

! ! !
p f = pi + Fnet !t

! Only external forces matter !

Internal forces cancel 12
animated slide
Applying the Momentum Principle to a system:
predicting motion

1.  Choose a system and surroundings

2.  Make a list of objects in surroundings that exert significant forces on system
! ! !
3.  Apply the Momentum Principle p f = pi + Fnet !t
! ! !
4.  Apply the position update formula if needed r = r + v !t
f i avg

5.  Check for reasonableness (units, etc.)

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 Motion of an object under constant force
System: cart and fan. One dimension.
air
p f = pi + Fnet Δt p ≈ mv

Fnet
Assume: v << c Then: v f = vi + Δt
m
Position update: rf = ri + vavg (t f − ti )

Divide t into small intervals so that v does not change

v
v (t ) Δt rf = ri + ∑ ⎡⎣v (t ) Δt ⎤⎦
vf

Need to find area under v(t) ! Only if v changes

vi at constant rate
vi + v f
rf = ri +
2
(t f − ti )
=vavg 14
ti tf t
See numerical example in text book
 v Motion of an object under varying force
vf

vi
rf = ri + ∑ ⎡⎣v (t ) Δt ⎤⎦
Area under the curve:

ti tf rf = ri + lim # (v (t )!t )
!t " 0

tf

rf = ri + ! v (t )dt
ti
integral

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 Example: a hockey puck
A hockey puck with
! a mass of 0.16 kg is initially at rest. A player hits it
applying force F = 400,400,0 N during Δt = 4 ms. Where would be the puck
2 seconds after it loses contact with hockey stick?
Solution:
1.  Choose a system and
surroundings:

Clicker question:
What will be the most convenient choice of the system?

A)  puck
B)  hockey stick
C)  player
D)  puck + hockey stick
E)  puck + hockey stick + player
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 Example: a hockey puck
A hockey puck with
! a mass of 0.16 kg is initially at rest. A player hits it
applying force F = 400,400,0 N during Δt = 4 ms. Where would be the puck
2 seconds after it loses contact with hockey stick?
Solution:
1.  Choose a system and
surroundings:

2. Make a list of objects in surroundings that exert significant forces on system

Hockey stick
Gravity
3. Apply the Momentum Principle Normal force opposing gravity
! ! ! Friction
p f = pi + Fnet !t
!
( )
p f = 0,0,0 m kg/s + 400,400,0 N ! 4 !10-3s ( )
!
p f = 1.6,1.6,0 m ! kg/s 17
 Example: a hockey puck
A hockey puck with
! a mass of 0.16 kg is initially at rest. A player hits it
applying force F = 400,400,0 N during Δt = 4 ms. Where would be the puck
2 seconds after it loses contact with hockey stick?
Solution:
y !
3. Momentum ! rf
! pf
p f = 1.6,1.6,0 m ! kg/s
x

4. The position update formula * Choose coordinate system origin:

! ! ! position of puck at the end of interaction
rf = ri + vavg !t
!
! ! ! p
p ! mv v ! = 10,10,0 m/s
m
!
rf = 0,0,0 m + 10,10,0 m/s ! 2 s ( )
!
rf = 20,20,0 m 18
 How Do You Measure force
The Momentum Principle
1. Use the momentum principle – not convenient ! !
!p = Fnet !t

2. Using Hooke s spring force law

! L0
Fspring = k S s
L

s = ΔL = L − L0 Robert Hooke
1635-1702

kS – spring stiffness (spring constant)

units: N/m

Direction of force: toward equilibrium

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 ! !
Example !p = Fnet !t

kS=500 N m
. Force: provided by a spring stretched by ΔL=4 cm
interaction duration: 1 s
? Find momentum pf if pi=<0,0,0> kg.m/s

on
!
no fricti 1. Force: Fspring = k S !L
!
Fspring = 500(N/m)0.04(m)=20 N
!
Fspring = 20,0,0 N
NB: force must not
change during Δt ! ! !
2. Momentum: p f = pi + Fnet !t
!
p f =< 0,0,0 > kg ! m/s + 20,0,0 N ! 1 s ( )
! N.s = kg.m/s2.s
p f =< 20,0,0 > kg ! m/s = kg.m/s

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 WHAT WE DID TODAY

• Relativity
• Momentum Principle
• Impulse
• Net Force
• Predicting Motion

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