Physics 103: Lecture 10

Impulse and Momentum

Todays lecture will cover the following new concepts:

Momentum
Impulse
Impulse-Momentum Theorem
Momentum Conservation

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Physics 103, Fall 2008, U. W

Momentum

The linear momentum of an object of mass m moving with

a velocity is defined as the product of the mass and the
velocity

SI Units are kg m / s
Vector quantity, the direction of the momentum is the
same as the velocitys

p x

Applies to two, three-dimensional motion

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Physics 103, Fall 2008, U. W

Impulse and Momentum

Impulse = average force time

I = Fave t = P
(nothing new.. Newtons second law)

r
r
r
v p
F= ma= m
=
t t
since
r r r
p= pf pi
I = Fave t

Assumption:

mass m of the object is constant

not necessary
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Physics 103, Fall 2008, U. W

You drop an egg onto

a) the floor

Questions

b) a thick piece of foam rubber

In both cases, the egg does not bounce.
In which case is the impulse greater?
A) case 1
B) case 2
correct

C) the same
In which case is the average force greater
A) case 1

correct

B) case 2
C) the same

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Physics 103, Fall 2008, U. W

Preflight Lecture 10 No.1

The impulse delivered to a body by a force is

1. defined only for interactions of short duration.
2. equal to the change in momentum of the body.
3. equal to the area under an F versus x graph.
4. defined only for elastic collisions.
Often useful in this
1:situation,
but not ONLY

70
60
50
A
B
C
D

40
30
20
10
0

Preflight 10.1

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to the area under

3:an Equal
F versus t graph!
it is defined for all
4:collisions
elastic & inelastic!

Physics 103, Fall 2008, U. W

Preflight Questions 2 & 3

Two identical balls are dropped from the same height onto the
floor. In case 1 the ball bounces back up, and in case 2 the ball
sticks to the floor without bouncing. In which case is the
impulse given to the ball by the floor larger?
correct

1. Case 1
2. Case 2
3. The same
45
40
35
30
25

A
B
C

20
15
10
5
0

the impulse is greater for case one because ...

the change in momentum of the object ... is
proportional to the change in velocity which is
greater in case one because it has a greater
final velocity (down then up) than case 2 (which
is only from down to zero). Impulse must be
greater for case 1.
Example: suppose m=1 kg, v(initial)=-1 m/s
mv(initial)= -1 kg-m/s

Preflight 10.2

Pretty Sure
Not Quite Sure
Just Guessing

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Case 1

mv(final)= +1 kg-m/s Impulse = 1- (-1)=2

Case 2 mv(final)= 0

Impulse = 1 - 0 = 1

Note: the direction (upward) important.

Physics 103, Fall 2008, U. W

Preflight Questions 6, 7 & 8

Is it possible for a system of two objects to have zero total
momentum while having a non-zero total kinetic energy?
correct

1. YES
2. NO

53%

in an isolated system, two ice skaters starting at

rest and pushing on one another will move in
opposite directions thus the momenta of the two
are equal and opposite and total momentum is
zero. but they are moving apart after the push
and therefore the KE is non-zero.

47%

0%

20%

40%

60%

two hockey pucks moving towards each other with

the same speed on a collision course have zero
total momentum, but a non zero total kinetic
energy

Pretty Sure
Not Quite Sure
Just Guessing

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Physics 103, Fall 2008, U. W

Momentum Conservation

Momentum-Impulse Theorem

For single object.

Fave t I = pf - pi = p

F = 0 momentum conserved (p = 0)

For a collection of objects

o

Fext = 0 total momentum conserved

r
r
p = p p = 0
f

o Fext = mtotal a

External is a VERY important qualifier

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Physics 103, Fall 2008, U. W

Some Terminology
Elastic Collisions:
collisions that conserve kinetic energy

Inelastic Collisions:
collisions that do not conserve kinetic energy
*

Completely Inelastic Collisons:

objects stick together
or an object breaks up into pieces

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Physics 103, Fall 2008, U. W

Elastic Collision in 1-Dimension

QuickTime and aCinepak decompressorare needed to see this

m1v1i + m2v 2i = m1v1 f + m2v 2 f

1
1
1
1
m1v1i2 + m2v 2i2 = m1v12f + m2v 22 f
2
2
2
2

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Physics 103, Fall 2008, U. W

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Elastic Collision
m1v1i + m2v 2i = m1v1 f + m2v 2 f
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
m1v1i + m2v 2i = m1v1 f + m2v 22 f
2
2
2
2
m1 (v1i2 v12f ) = m2 (v 22 f v 2i2 )
m1 (v1i v1 f )(v1i + v1 f ) = m2 (v 2 f v 2i )(v 2 f + v 2i )
m1 (v1i v1 f ) = m2 (v 2 f v 2i )
v1i + v1 f = v 2i + v 2 f
v1i v 2i = (v1 f v 2 f )
Magnitude of relative velocity is conserved.

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Physics 103, Fall 2008, U. W

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Preflight Lecture 10 No.9

In an elastic collision
1. kinetic energy is conserved.
2. momentum is conserved.
3. the magnitude of the relative velocity is conserved.
4. all of the above are correct.
10%
12%
3%
75%

0%

20%

40%

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60%

80%

1: True by definition of elastic

2: True by definition of collision

3: Total momentum is unchanged

Physics 103, Fall 2008, U. W

12

Preflight Lecture 10 No.10

In an inelastic collision
1. both kinetic energy and momentum are conserved.
2. only kinetic energy is conserved.
3. only momentum is conserved.
4. neither kinetic energy nor momentum are conserved.

9%
14%
56%
21%

0%

20%

40%

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1: False by definition of inelastic collision

2: False by definition of inelastic collision
4: False by definition of collision

60%

Physics 103, Fall 2008, U. W

13

Collisions
m2

m1

m2

m1

before

after

Procedure
Draw before, after
Define system so that Fext = 0
Set up axes
Compute Ptotal before
Compute Ptotal after

Explosions
before

m1

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Set them equal to each other

m2

after

Physics 103, Fall 2008, U. W

14

Conceptual Example
Consider two blocks (mass m and M) sliding toward one
another (with velocities vm and vM) on a frictionless plane.
m

vm

vM

What happens after the collision?

Pm + PM = Pm + PM
What does your result depend on?
Is the collision elastic or? Kinetic energy loss in inelastic!
How would the answer change if there was friction
between the blocks and the plane?
Kinetic energy would be lost during the motion.
We would need initial distances to calculate!

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Physics 103, Fall 2008, U. W

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Totally Inelastic Head-on Collision

Draw before and after

before

System = two blocks

Axis: postive to right

2m

vf

after

Before: Ptotal,before = mv + (-mv) = 0 !

After: Ptotal,after = (2m)vf
Ptotal,before = Ptotal,after
0 = (2m)vf
vf = 0 !
Therefore KEafter = 0

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Physics 103, Fall 2008, U. W

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Preflight Question 11 & 12

Movies often show someone firing a gun loaded with blanks. In a
blank cartridge the lead bullet is removed and the end of the
shell casing is crimped shut to prevent the gunpowder from
spilling out. When a gun fires a blank, is the recoil greater than,
the same as, or less than when the gun fires a standard bullet?
1. greater than
correct

2. same as
3. less than

Impulse is the same

in the two cases

18%
Pretty Sure
Not Quite Sure
Just Guessing

36%
45%

0%

10%

20%

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30%

40%

50%

Physics 103, Fall 2008, U. W

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Explosions
before

v1

m2

m1

v2

after

Example: m1 = M/3 m2 = 2M/3

Which block has larger momentum?
* Each has same momentum
Which block has larger velocity?
* mv

same for each

smaller mass has larger velocity

Which block has larger kinetic energy?

* KE = mv2/2 = m2v2/2m = p2/2m smaller mass has larger KE
Is kinetic energy conserved?

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*NO!!

Physics 103, Fall 2008, U. W

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Reprise
1a) Momentum is mass times velocity (vector).
1b) Impulse (vector) is average force times time of action
(equal to the momentum change.)
2) Momentum is conserved when no external force.
3) Kinetic energy may be conserved (elastic collisions)
or may not (inelastic collisions).

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Physics 103, Fall 2008, U. W

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