Momentum and Impulse

SPH4U
 Linear Momentum
Linear momentum is defined as the product of an
object’s mass and its instantaneous velocity:
 
p  mv
 Linear Momentum
Linear momentum is defined as the product of an
object’s mass and its instantaneous velocity:
 
p  mv
kg  m
It is a vector quantity and has units of
s
 Impulse
An unbalanced force acting on an object will
cause an acceleration that will change its
instantaneous velocity and therefore its
momentum.
 
p  mv
 Impulse
An unbalanced force acting on an object will
cause an acceleration that will change its
instantaneous velocity and therefore its
momentum.
 
p  mv

This change in momentum is called the impulse.

Momentum and Impulse: Example
A book of mass 1-kg falls on the floor and is
stopped by the floor. Its speed just before
impact was 5 m/s. What is the:
(a)momentum of the book before impact?
(b)momentum of the book after impact?
(c)change in momentum (impulse)?
Momentum and Impulse: Example
A book of mass 1-kg falls on the floor and is
stopped by the floor. Its speed just before
impact was 5 m/s. What is the:
(a)momentum of the book before impact?
Momentum and Impulse: Example
A book of mass 1-kg falls on the floor and is
stopped by the floor. Its speed just before
impact was 5 m/s. What is the:
(a)momentum of the book before impact?
  kg m
p  mv  (1 kg )(5 s [down])  5 s [down]
m
Momentum and Impulse: Example
A book of mass 1-kg falls on the floor and is
stopped by the floor. Its speed just before
impact was 5 m/s. What is the:
(b) momentum of the book after impact?
Momentum and Impulse: Example
A book of mass 1-kg falls on the floor and is
stopped by the floor. Its speed just before
impact was 5 m/s. What is the:
(b) momentum of the book after impact?

zero
Momentum and Impulse: Example
A book of mass 1-kg falls on the floor and is
stopped by the floor. Its speed just before
impact was 5 m/s. What is the:
(c) change in momentum (impulse)?
Momentum and Impulse: Example
A book of mass 1-kg falls on the floor and is
stopped by the floor. Its speed just before
impact was 5 m/s. What is the:
(c) change in momentum (impulse)?
Momentum and Impulse: Example
A book of mass 1-kg falls on the floor and is
stopped by the floor. Its speed just before
impact was 5 m/s. What is the:
(c) change in momentum (impulse)?
Momentum and Impulse: Example
A book of mass 1-kg falls on the floor and is
stopped by the floor. Its speed just before
impact was 5 m/s. What is the:
(c) change in momentum (impulse)?
  
p  p2  p1
 kg m
p  5 s [down]
 kg m
p  5 s [up]
Newton’s 2 Law
nd
Newton’s 2 Law
nd
Newton’s 2 Law
nd
Newton’s 2 Law
nd

 
F  ma
 
 v 
F  m 
 t 
 
Ft  mv
 
Ft  p
 Force-time Graphs
Impulse is therefore the area under a force-time
graph:
 Force-time Graphs
Impulse is therefore the area under a force-time
graph:

Same impulse
 Force-time Graphs
Force-time graphs are most useful when the
force is not constant: