General Physics I

Prepared:
Phillip Lacosta
Center of Mass
 Is the balancing point for the
mass distribution.
It always stay where it is.
 Could be located within or ou
tside an object or body
Center of mass

I
Center of mass
Center of mass

Center of mass
• is within the
object
Center of mass

Sun
Mars
•

Center of mass
is outside the
objects
Center of mass

y2
M2
Ycm

y1 M1

Ycm = m1y1 + m2y2 + ...

m1 + m2 + ...
Center of mass

5m
2kg
4m

2m 1kg

4m = 1kg(2m) + 2kg(5m)
1kg + 2kg
Center of mass

X2
X1

M1 M2

Xcm

Xcm = m1x1 + m2x2 + ...

m1 + m2 + ...
Center of mass

5m
2m

1kg 2kg

4m

4 m = 1 kg(2 m) + 2 kg(5 m)
1 kg + 2 kg
Momentum
 A vector quantity which is the pr
oduct of mass and velocity and ha
s the unit of kg•m/s
P=mv
P - momentum
m - mass
v - velocity
Momentum

 Forces cause changes in an objec

t’s momentum. That is, forces cau
se the object’s velocity to change
over time.
We can determine the change in an
object’s velocity over time using this
expression in the form:
Momentum

 There are two classes of force: i

nternal force and external force
Remember that only the external
forces change the total momentu
m of the system
Momentum

Sample problem:

• Usain Bolt is about 55 kg and running

with the speed of 10 m/s. What is his
momentum?
• Which has the greater momentum, a
200 kg tricycle moving at 1 m/s or a
baseball with a mass of 3 kg and
moving at 60 m/s?
Conservation of momentum
 It states that momentum is consta
nt and does not change over time
Impulse
 Is the product of force and time w
hich it acts and has the unit of N•s
I=F∆t
I - impulse
F - force
∆t - time which it acts