WEEK 4: SSS 2 SECOND TERM LESSON NOTE

TOPIC: LINEAR MOMENTUM CONTINUES………..

Principle of conservation of linear momentum

Principle of conservation of linear momentum: In a closed system of colliding bodies, the

total momentum after the collision is equal to the total momentum before the collision provided
there is no net external force acting on the system.

Case 1: Consider two bodies A and B of masses m1 and m2 moving in the same direction with
velocities u1 and u2 respectively. After collision their velocities were V1 and V2 as shown below.

U1 U2 V1 V2

A B A B

Before collision After collision

Applying the principle of conservation of linear momentum,

M1U1 + M2U2 = M1V1 + M2V2

Case 2: Consider two bodies A and B of masses m1 and m2 moving towards each other with
velocities u1 and u2 respectively. After collision there velocities were V1 and V2 .

U1 U2 V1 V2

A B A B

Before
Assuming m1collision
u1> m2u2, After collision

Applying the principle of conservation of linear momentum,

M1U1 - M2U2 = M1V1 + M2V2

Case 3: Consider two bodies A and B of masses m1 and m2 moving in the same direction with
velocities u1 and u2 respectively. If after collision they coalesce and move together with common
velocity V.

U1 U2

V
A B A B
 Before collision After collision

Applying the principle of conservation of linear momentum,

M1U1 + M2U2 = (M1 + M2)V

CALCULATIONS:

Example 1: A trolley of mass 4kg moving on a smooth horizontal platform with a speed of 1.0ms -1
collides perfectly with a stationary trolley of the same mass on the same platform. Calculate the total
momentum of the two trolleys immediately after the collision.

SOLUTION:

M1 = 4kg, U1 = 10m/s, U2 = 0, M2 = 4kg

Applying the principle of conservation of linear momentum,

Total momentum before the collision = total momentum after the collision.
m1u1 + m2u2 = m1v1 + m2v2
since u2 = 0,
m2u2 = 0
Momentum after collision (m1 v1 + m2v2) = m1u1 = 4 x 1 = 4.0 kgms – 1

Example2. A ball of mass 0.5kg moving at 10ms -1 collides with another ball of equal mass at rest. If the
two balls move off together after the impact, calculate their common velocity.

M1 = 0.5kg, U1 = 10m/s, U2 = 0, M2 = kg

SOLUTION:

Applying the principle of conservation of linear momentum,

Total momentum before the collision = total momentum after the collision.

M1U1 + M2U2 = (M1 + M2)V

0.5 x 10 + 0.5 x0 = (0.5 +0.5)V

5 = 1.0V

V = 5m/s
 1. A ball P of mass 0.25kg loses one-third of its velocity when it makes a head-on collision
with an identical ball Q at rest. After the collision, Q moves off with a speed of 2m/s in
the original direction of P. Calculate the initial velocity of P.
Types of collisions

Types of collision: There are two major types of collisions, elastic and inelastic collisions.

Elastic collision: In an elastic collision both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved. This means
that for two colliding bodies with masses m1 and m2 and initial velocities u1 and u2 and final
velocities after collision V1 and V2 ,

M1U1 + M2U2 = M1V1 + M2V2,

M1U12 + M2U22 = M1V12 + M2V22

An example of perfectly elastic collision is a ball which bounces off the ground back to its original height.

Inelastic collision: In this case momentum is conserved but kinetic energy is not conserved. The energy
lost is usually converted to heat, sound or elastic potential energy.

M1U1 + M2U2 = M1V1 + M2V2,

M1U12 + M2U22 M1V12 + M2V22

3. A body of mass 5kg moving with a velocity of 20m/s due south hits a stationary body of mass 3kg.
If they move together after collision with a velocity v due south, find the value of v.
Solution

Applying the principle of conservation of linear momentum,

Total momentum before the collision = total momentum after the collision.

M1U1 + M2U2 = (M1 + M2)V

5 x 20 + 3 x0 = (5+ 3)V

100 = 8V

V = 12.5m/s