MOMENTUM AND

IMPULSE
MOMENTUM
MOMENTUM
• It is a quantity measure of how difficult it is to stop a
moving object.
• It is defined as the product of the object’s mass and its
velocity.
• 𝑃 = 𝑚𝑣
• It is denoted by P.
• It is a vector quantity.
• It is measured in kgm/s
• It takes the direction of the object’s velocity.
EXAMPLE 1
Calculate the momentum of the following objects.
1.1 50g ball moving at 40 m/s towards east.
1.2 3500 kg car travelling at 100km/h towards west.
SOLUTION 1
50
1.1 m = 50 g = = 0,05 𝑘𝑔 = , v = 40 m/s
1000
P = mv
= (0,05)(40)
= 2 kg ; east
100
1.2 m = 3500 kg; v = 100km/h = = 27,78𝑚𝑠 −1
3,6
p = mv
= (3500)(27,78)
= 97 230 kgm/s west
CHANGE IN MOMENTUM
• Momentum changes with a change in the velocity of an
object.
• It is the difference between the final and initial momentum.
• It is denoted by ∆𝑝
• ∆𝑝 = 𝑝𝑓 − 𝑝𝑖
= m𝑣𝑓 − 𝑚𝑣𝑖
= m( 𝑣𝑓 − 𝑣𝑖 )
= m∆𝑣
CHANGE IN MOMENTUM
• When an object bounces off a fix object like the wall: both
kinetic energy and momentum are not conserved.
EXAMPLE 2
200g tennis ball is thrown to the wall at 12m/s and bounces
off at 9m/s.

12m/s

9m/s
CHANGE IN MOMENTUM
∆𝑝 = 𝑚 𝑣𝑓 − 𝑣𝑖
= 0,2 ( -9- 12)
= - 4,2 kgm/s
= 4,2 kgm/s west
Graph

𝑃𝑓 𝑃𝑖

∆𝑃
LEARNER’S ACTIVITY 1
1.1 A bullet with a mass of 20g is travelling at 400m/s.
Calculate its momentum.
1.2 A 200g tennis ball is dropped from a height of 10m
above the ground.
1.2.1 Calculate the ball’s momentum when it hits the
ground.
If the ball bounces off to the height of 5m:
1.2.2 Calculate the change in momentum immediately after
the impact.
IMPULSE
• An impulse is a quantity measure of how hard and for how
long is the force acting during an impact/ collision.
• It is defined as the product of the net force acting on the
object and the time taken.
• It is denoted by J or 𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡 ∆𝑡
• It is a vector quantity
• It is measured in N.s which is equivalent to kgm/s.
IMPULSE
• Impulse = 𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡 ∆𝑡
• When an impulse is delivered, the system’s momentum
changes, hence:
• 𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡 ∆𝑡 = ∆𝑝
NEWTON’S SECONG LAW INTERMS
OF MOMENTUM
• 𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 𝑚∆𝑣
∆𝑡 ∆𝑣
• 𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 𝑚
∆𝑡 ∆𝑡
• 𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 𝑚𝑎
∆𝑝
=
∆𝑡
• The net force acting on an object is equal to the rate of
change in momentum.
EXAMPLE 3
A tennis ball with a mass of 200g collides with a wall at
12m/s and bounces off at 9m/s.
3.1 Calculate the impulse of the ball.
3.2 Without calculations. What is the impulse of the wall?
If the ball is in contact with the wall for 0,2 s.
3.3 Calculate the force exerted by the wall on the ball.
 SOLUTION 3
200
m= 200𝑔 = = 0,2kg; 𝑣𝑖 = 12𝑚𝑠 −1 ; 𝑣𝑓 = −9𝑚𝑠 −1
1000
3.1 Impulse = ∆𝑃 = 𝑚∆𝑣
= m(𝑣𝑓 − 𝑣𝑖 )
= 0,2( -9 – 12)
= -4,2 kgm/s
= 4,2 kgm/s away from the wall.
3.2 4,2 kgm/s; towards the wall
3.3 𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡 ∆𝑡 = ∆𝑃
𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡 (0,2) = 4,2
𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 21N away from the wall
LEARNER’S ACTIVITY 2
A cricket ball with a mass of 150 g is thrown at 30 degrees
above horizontally towards a player at 14m/s. It is hit back
in the opposite direction with a velocity of 34m/s. The ball is
in contact with the bat for 0,04 s.
2.1 Calculate the:
2.1.1 impulse of the ball and indicate the direction.
2.1.2 force exerted on the ball by the bat.
2.2 Without making calculations, what is:
2.2.1 the impulse of the bat?
2.2.2 the force and direction acting on the bat. Motivate
your answer by quoting the law of motion that you have
applied.
PRINCIPLE OF CONSERVATION OF
LINEAR MOMENTUM
• The total momentum of an isolated system is constant/
conserved/ remain the same.
• 𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 0𝑁
• 𝑊𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 0𝐽
∆𝑝
• = 0𝑁
∆𝑡
TYPES OF COLLISION
1. Object(s) breaking or separating
2. Joining objects
3. Shooting, throwing or launching
4. Objects hitting each other
COLLISIONS AND PROBLEM TYPES
1. Two objects collide and continue to move as separate
objects after collision.

+ +

෍ 𝑃𝑖 = ෍ 𝑃𝑓

𝑚1 𝑣1𝑖 + 𝑚2 𝑣2𝑖 = 𝑚1 𝑣1𝑓 + 𝑚2 𝑣2𝑓

2. An object colliding with a stationary object and
continue to move as separate objects after the
collision.

0m/s

σ 𝑃𝑖 =σ 𝑃𝑓
𝑚1 𝑣1𝑖 + 𝑚2 𝑣2𝑖 = 𝑚1 𝑣1𝑓 + 𝑚2 𝑣2𝑓
 3. Two objects collide and unite

෍ 𝑃𝑖 = ෍ 𝑃𝑓

𝑚1 𝑣1𝑖 + 𝑚2 𝑣2𝑖 = (𝑚1 + 𝑚2 )𝑣𝑓

4. Two objects initially joined, then
separate after collision.

෍ 𝑃𝑖 = ෍ 𝑃𝑓

𝑚1 + 𝑚2 𝑣𝑖 = 𝑚1 𝑣1𝑓 + 𝑚2 𝑣2𝑓
5. Two stationary objects that are initially
joined, then separate during collision e.s
shooting.

෍ 𝑃𝑖 = ෍ 𝑃𝑓

(𝑚1 +𝑚2 )𝑣𝑖 = 𝑚1 𝑣1𝑖 + 𝑚2 𝑣2𝑓

0 = 𝑚1 𝑣1𝑓 + 𝑚2 𝑣2𝑓
6. An object falls vertically onto another
object that is moving horizontal.

෍ 𝑃𝑖 = ෍ 𝑃𝑓

𝑚1 𝑣1𝑖 + 𝑚2 𝑣2𝑖 = (𝑚1 + 𝑚2 )𝑣𝑓

𝑚1 𝑣1𝑖 + 0 = (𝑚1 + 𝑚2 )𝑣𝑓
 EXAMPLE 4
A 1200 g toy truck is travelling towards east
at 4m/s and collide with a stationary toy car
of mass 800g. Calculate the speed of the
toys if they combine after collision.
 SOLUTIONS 4
1200 800
𝑚1 = 1200𝑔 = = 1,2𝑘 𝑔; 𝑚2 = 800𝑔 =
1000 1000
= 0,8 𝑘𝑔
𝑣1𝑖 = 4𝑚𝑠 −1 ; 𝑣2𝑖 = 0𝑚𝑠 −1 ; 𝑣𝑓 =?
෍ 𝑃𝐼 = ෍ 𝑃𝑓

𝑚1 𝑣1𝑖 + 𝑚2 𝑣2𝑖 = (𝑚1 + 𝑚2 )𝑣𝑓

(1,2)(4) + 0 = (1,2 + 0,8)𝑣𝑓
𝑣𝑓 = 2,4𝑚𝑠 −1 east
 LEARNER’S ACTIVITY 3
3.1 A rifle with a mass of 3 kg is fired with a bullet of mass
20g. Immediately after firing, the rifle recoils with a speed of
1,2 m/s. Calculate the speed of the bullet after firing.
3.2 A 3 kg mass trolley is moving horizontal at 4m/s
towards east. A bag of 5kg fertiliser lands onto the trolley at
a speed of 1m/s. Calculate the speed of the trolley plus
fertiliser.
 LEARNER’S ACTIVITY 3
3.3 A boy with a mass of 38 kg runs at 5 m/s east and
jumps onto a 5kg stationary skateboard. Calculate the
speed of the skateboard plus boy it they are moving
together.
3.4 A toy locomotive of mass 400g is moving on a railway
track at 4m/s. It collides heads on with a toy good wagon of
mass 300g moving towards west at 2m/s. Immediately after
the collision the toy locomotive remain stationary.
Determine the speed and direction of the toy goods wagon
after collision.
ELASTIC AND INELASTIC COLLISION
1. ELASTIC COLLISION
• Is a collision in which the kinetic energy of the system is
conserved.
• Linear momentum is conserved.
• σ 𝑃𝑖 = σ 𝑃𝑓
• Colliding objects remain separated.
• Total kinetic energy is conserved
• σ 𝐸𝑘𝑖 = σ 𝐸𝑘𝑓
• The initial kinetic energy is not transformed into any other
forms of energy.
• No deformation takes place.
 INELASTIC COLLISION
• Is a collision in which the kinetic energy of the
system is not conserved.
• Total linear momentum is conserved.
• σ 𝑃𝑖 = σ 𝑃𝑓
• Colliding objects may join before or after
collision.
• The total kinetic energy is conserved.
• σ 𝐸𝑘𝑖 ≠ σ 𝐸𝑘𝑓
• Some of the initial kinetic energy is
transformed into other forms of energy e.g
heat, light, sound
 EXAMPLE 4
A minibus with a mass of 3600 kg travelling towards east at
20 m/s collide and join with a car of mass 2400 kg travelling
towards east at 10m/s.
4.1 Calculate the speed of the wreckage
4.2 Is the collision elastic or inelastic? Give a reason for
you answer.
4.3 Use calculations to prove the answer in question 5,2
 SOLUTION 4
4.1 𝑚1 =3600 kg, 𝑚2 = 2400 𝑘𝑔; 𝑣1𝑖 = 20𝑚𝑠 −1 ; 𝑣2𝑖 =
10𝑚𝑠 −1 ; 𝑣𝑓 =?
෍ 𝑃𝑖 = ෍ 𝑃𝑓

𝑚1 𝑣1𝑖 + 𝑚2 𝑣2𝑖 = (𝑚1 +𝑚2 )𝑣𝑓

(3600)(20) + (2400)(10) = (3600+2400)𝑣𝑓
𝑣𝑓 = 16𝑚𝑠 −1 ; east
4.2 Inelastic, the kinetic energy of the system is not
conserved. Or The total kinetic energy of the objects is not
conserved.
4.3 σ 𝐸𝑘 𝑏𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒 collision
෍ 𝐸𝑘 = 𝐸𝑘1 + 𝐸𝑘2

1 1
= 𝑚𝑣1𝑖 + 𝑚𝑣2𝑖 2
2
2 2
1 1
= (3600)(20) + (2400)(10)2
2
2 2
= 840 000J
෍ 𝐸𝑘 𝑎𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛

1 1
෍ 𝐸𝑘 = 𝐸𝑘1 + 𝐸𝑘2 = 𝑚𝑣1𝑓 + 𝑚𝑣2𝑓 2
2
2 2
1 1
= (3600)(16)2 + (2400)(16)2
2 2
= 768 000 J
෍ 𝐸𝑘𝑖 ≠ ෍ 𝐸𝑘𝑓
 LEARNER’S ACTIVITY 4
4.1 A toy car with a mass of 250g is moving towards west
at 0,75m/s and collide with a stationary toy truck with a
mass of 500g. If after collision, the toy truck is moving at
0,4 m/s towards west:
4.1.1 Calculate the speed of the toy car.
4.1.2 Use calculations to determine whether the collision is
elastic or inelastic.
 EXAMPLE 6
An ice- skater with a mass of 54 kg, is holding a box as part
of her act. She skates with a velocity of 0,08 m/s east. She
throws the 1,5 kg box directly away from her with a velocity
of 10,2m/s east.
6.1 State the principle of conservation of linear momentum.
6.2 calculate the ice-skater’s velocity immediately after
throwing the box away from her.
6.3 Calculate the magnitude of the force exerted on the box
by the ice- skater if she exerted this force for 1,2 s.
 EXAMPLE 7
The diagram below shows two sections XY
and YZ, of a horizontal, flat surface. Section
XY is smooth, while section YZ is rough.
A 5 kg block, moving with a velocity of 4m/s
to the right, collides head- on with a
stationary 3 kg block. After the collision, the
two blocks stick together and move to the
right, past point Y. The combined blocks
travel for 0,3 s from point Y before coming to
a stop at point Z.
 EXAMPLE 7

4m/s 0m/s

5 Kg 3 kg

X Y Z
 EXAMPLE 7
Calculate the magnitude of the:
7.1 Velocity of the combined blocks at point
Y.
7.2 Net force acting on the combined blocks
when they move through section YZ.
 LEARNER’S ACTIVITY 5
Two identical objects P and Q with mass of
12 kg each’ are moving side by side with an
initial velocity of 5,5 m/s east on a horizontal
surface.
The following graphs show the net force (F)
experienced by each object respectively
during the same time interval.
 LEARNER’S ACTIVITY 5
OBJECT P OBJECT Q

F(N) F(N)
15 15
10 10
5 5
0 0
2 4 6 8 10 t(s) 2 4 6 8 10
-10 t(S)
 LEARNER’S ACTIVITY 5
5.1 Calculate the total impulse experienced by object Q in
10 s.
5.2 Compare without using any calculations the total
impulse for object P with that of object Q. Write down only
greater than, less than or equal to.
5.3 Calculate the final velocity of object Q.
 LEARNER’S ACTIVITY 6
Trolley X with a mass m is placed against trolley Y with
mass 3m, as shown in the diagram below. A compressed
spring between the two trolleys releases in 0,3 s and the
trolleys move in opposite directions. Trolley X moves west
and hits a barrier after time T.
Barrier Cushion

Y
X
 The table below gives the position of
trolley X for time intervals of 0,3 s.

Position 0 1,38 2,88 4,38 5,88 7,38 7,38 7,38

(m)
Time (s) 0 0,3 0,6 0,9 1,2 1,5 1,6 2,1
 LEARNER’S ACTIVEITY 6
6.1 At which time t does the trolley X hit the
barrier?
6.2 Explain, with reference to the values in
the table, why trolley X moves with a
constant speed between t = 0,3 s and t = 1,5
s.
6.3 State the principle of conservation of
linear momentum in words.
6.4 calculate the speed of trolley Y after the
spring is released.