MOMENTUM

by Kyprianos Chrysafinis
OBJECTIVES

• Understand linear momentum, and use the equation p = m v

• Understand what an impulse is, and use the equation J = F Δt

• Distinguish between Newton’s second law equations F = m α and F =

Δp/Δt
 What is momentum?

Goal: Which quantities determine momentum?

Example: Velocity is determined by which quantities?

 What is momentum?

Goal: Which quantities determine momentum?

𝚫𝒔
Example: Velocity is determined by which quantities? 𝒗=
𝚫𝒕
1. Displacement

2. Time
 Activity 1: What is momentum?

1. Find a short reference that includes the word 'momentum' (1-2 sentences).

• This can be from any source, such as an article, song, poem, etc.

• You may work individually or in pairs.

• If the reference is in your native language, feel free to translate it into English.
 Activity 1: What is momentum?

My example (translation from a Greek song):

‘If I ever see you again, I won't hide from you

With momentum, the pains will flow.
Don't be sad, don't say you're sorry
I don't want pity—it kills me.’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9fcIEmI18A
 Activity 1: What is momentum?

2. Write your reference on the A3 paper of your table.

Based on all the references, try to answer:

Which quantities determine momentum?

3. Discuss it at your table and be prepared to share your findings

with the rest of the class.
 Activity 1: What is momentum?
Which quantities determine momentum?

‘If I ever see you again, I won't hide from you

With momentum, the pains will flow.
Don't be sad, don't say you're sorry
I don't want pity—it kills me.’
MOMENTUM - 𝒑

𝑝=𝑚×𝑣
The product of the mass and velocity of a body.
 MOMENTUM

𝑝=𝑚×𝑣
The product of the mass and velocity of a body.

Units’
check-up:
 MOMENTUM

𝑝=𝑚×𝑣
The product of the mass and velocity of a body.

Units’ 𝑚 𝑚
check-up: 𝑘𝑔 = 𝑘𝑔 ×
𝑠 𝑠
 MOMENTUM

‘moving’: 𝑣

‘Something is moving’: 𝑝 =𝑚×𝑣

 MOMENTUM

• Is momentum a scalar or a vector?

𝑝 =𝑚×𝑣
 MOMENTUM

• Is momentum a scalar or a vector?

𝒑=𝑚×𝒗
Momentum is a vector!

The direction of linear momentum is the same

as the direction of the velocity of the body.

 Momentum as a vector

Momentum is a vector and can be represented by an arrow.

• For motion in a straight line, you can use a + or – to indicate direction:

10 kg m/s
a) + 10 kg m/s means momentum of 10 kg m/s to the right

10 kg m/s
b) - 10 kg m/s means momentum of 10 kg m/s to the left
 MOMENTUM

• What is the momentum of a model car that has a mass of 2000g and a
velocity of 0.0003 km/s to the right?
𝑝 =𝑚×𝑣
 MOMENTUM

• What is the momentum of a model car that has a mass of 2000g and a
velocity of 0.0003 km/s to the right?

m = 2000g = 2 kg
v = 0.0003 km/s = 0.3 m/s
p=mv
p = 2 (0.3) = 0.6 kg m/s to the right
Imagine you are playing catch with a friend and they throw a tennis ball to
you at a low speed. You can stop it without any problem.
Now imagine that they throw a steel ball of the same size to you at the
same speed as before. The steel ball will be harder to stop – Why?
Imagine you are playing catch with a friend and they throw a tennis ball to
you at a low speed. You can stop it without any problem.
Now imagine that they throw a steel ball of the same size to you at the
same speed as before. The steel ball will be harder to stop – Why?

p=mv
The tennis ball and the steel ball have the same velocity, but it is harder
for you to stop the steel ball while it is moving because the steel ball has a
greater mass than the tennis ball (and thus, greater MOMENTUM).
Linking force and momentum...

Let’s start from Newton’s second law of motion:

resultant force = mass x acceleration

Linking force and momentum...
(the mathematical proof)
𝑎 =?
Linking force and momentum...
(the mathematical proof)
Linking force and momentum...
(the mathematical proof)

𝑝 =𝑚×𝑣
Linking force and momentum

Newton’s second law of motion can also be expressed as:

resultant force = rate of change of momentum

Δ: change
 Problem 1
A model car of mass 2 kg is traveling in a straight line. If its velocity increases
from 3 m/s to 9 m/s in 4s, what is the resultant force on it?

Use that:

𝑝 =𝑚×𝑣
 Problem 1
A model car of mass 2 kg is traveling in a straight line. If its velocity increases
from 3 m/s to 9 m/s in 4s, what is the resultant force on it?

𝚫𝐏 𝑷𝒇 − 𝑷𝒊 𝒎𝒗𝒇 − 𝒎𝒗𝒊 𝟐 𝟗 − 𝟐(𝟑)

𝚺𝐅 = = = = = 𝟑𝑵
𝚫𝐭 𝟒 𝟒 𝟒
Problem 1

(initial momentum)

(final momentum)
 Problem 2
A small rocket pushes out 2 kg of exhaust gas every second at a velocity of 100
m/s. What thrust (forward force) is produced by the engine?
 Problem 2
A small rocket pushes out 2 kg of exhaust gas every second at a velocity of 100
m/s. What thrust (forward force) is produced by the engine?

𝚫𝐏 𝒎𝒗𝒇 − 𝒎𝒗𝒊 𝒎(𝒗𝒇 −𝒗𝒊 ) 𝟐(𝟏𝟎𝟎 − 𝟎)

𝚺𝐅 = = = = = 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝑵
𝚫𝐭 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
Problem 2
https://www.gradegorilla.co
m/microIB25/Aforces/M_ne
wtons_laws.php
HOMEWORK
SOLUTIONS
SOLUTIONS
IMPULSE
What is impulse?
Linking force and momentum

Newton’s second law of motion can also be expressed as:

resultant force = rate of change of momentum

IMPULSE J

From the previous equation, it follows that:

The quantity ‘force x time’ is called impulse, and we use the symbol J
IMPULSE J

Yes, Impulse is J = ΔP = ΣF x Δt
but do not forget that it is just the change in momentum!

𝐽 = ΔP = 𝑃𝑓 − 𝑃𝑖
 True or false... J = ΔP = ΣF x Δt

If the same force acts for the same time on different masses:

• the larger mass would gain less velocity than the smaller mass.

• the larger mass would gain more velocity than the smaller mass.

• the change in ‘mass x velocity’ would be the same in every case.

• the change in ‘mass x velocity’ wouldn’t be the same.

True or false... J = ΔP = ΣF x Δt

If the same force acts for the same time on different masses:

• the larger mass would gain less velocity than the smaller mass.
• the larger mass would gain more velocity than the smaller mass.

• the change in ‘mass x velocity’ would be the same in every case.

• the change in ‘mass x velocity’ wouldn’t be the same.

IMPULSE J

There are many cases in which we want to minimize a force,

and we can do this by increasing the time of contact, Δt.
 EXAMPLES
• Imagine the car you are travelling in comes to a sudden stop.
A seatbelt stretches and so it decelerates you over a longer period of time:
If Δt is larger, F is smaller. This could save your life!

• An egg breaks when it falls onto hard concrete but not when it falls
onto a soft cushion.
Since Δp = F Δt is the same for both eggs, the egg that lands on the cushion
experiences a smaller force over a longer time, making it less likely to break.
 Changing Mass
• The mass of a body or system does not always remain the same.
For example, an airplane uses fuel while flying, so the mass of the fuel reduces
during the flight.

• F = ma assumes that the mass remains constant, while,

F = Δp/Δt allows for mass to be changing.
 IMPULSE J J = ΔP = ΣF x Δt

• Impulse can be represented by a force against time graph. The left graph shows
a constant force, and the right graph shows a force that is changing.

How can we find the impulse of each force?

 IMPULSE J J = ΔP = ΣF x Δt

• Impulse can be represented by a force against time graph. The left graph shows
a constant force, and the right graph shows a force that is changing.

We can find the impulse of each force by calculating the

area under the graph.
 IMPULSE J
• (worksheet)
IMPULSE J
IMPULSE J
+ −
+ −
CONSERVATION OF MOMENTUM
NEW OBJECTIVES
• Understand collisions and conservation of momentum.

• Describe kinetic energy in elastic and inelastic collisions.

• Understand explosions in terms of momentum.
Conservation of momentum

Conservation of momentum:

Δp = 0
total pinitial = total pfinal
Momentum is a vector quantity, so we need to take into account the
direction of momentum for each body!
Linking force and momentum

Newton’s second law of motion can also be expressed as:

resultant force = rate of change of momentum

Conservation of momentum

Conservation of momentum:

When the net force on a system is zero (ΣF = 0 N) the momentum

does not change, i.e. it stays the same. We say it is conserved.

and so, if ΣF = 0 it follows that ∆p = 0

The system is the body or bodies, we are interested in.

Everything else around them is the surroundings.
Conservation of momentum

Conservation of momentum:

‘Linear momentum remains constant

unless the system is acted on by a resultant external force.’
Solution

total pinitial = total pfinal

𝑚1 𝑣1,𝑖 + 𝑚2 𝑣2,𝑖 = 𝑚𝑓 𝑣𝑓
1 2 + 4(−3) = 5𝑣𝑓
2 − 12 = 5𝑣𝑓
𝑚
𝑣𝑓 = −2
𝑠
Collision problem: the solution
𝑚1 𝑣1,𝑖 + 𝑚2 𝑣2,𝑖 = 𝑚2 𝑣𝑓,1 + 𝑚2 𝑣𝑓,2
(3000 x 10) + (1000 x 0) = (3000 x 𝒗𝒇,𝟏 ) + (1000 x 15)
30000 = 3000 𝒗𝒇,𝟏 + 15000
30000 – 15000 = 3000 𝒗𝒇,𝟏
15000 / 3000 = 𝒗𝒇,𝟏
𝒗𝒇,𝟏 = 5 ms-1
 Explosions
• The same principles apply to explosions, where the object being fired
and the object firing it will act in opposite directions.
total pinitial = total pfinal
0 = 2 (–𝑣𝑓,1 ) + 150 (0.02)
0 = -2 𝑣𝑓,1 + 3
2 𝑣𝑓,1 = 3
𝑣𝑓,1 = 3/2 = 1.5 ms-1
Momentum!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxKelGugDa8
Exercises
Solutions
Solutions
 Kinetic Energy - 𝑬𝒌

• Moving objects have kinetic energy [J]:

𝟏 𝟐
𝑬𝒌 = 𝒎𝒗
𝟐
Collisions

Elastic Inelastic

𝑬𝒌 conserved 𝑬𝒌 conserved

Total 𝑬𝒌,𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 Total 𝑬𝒌,𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆

= Total 𝑬𝒌,𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 > Total 𝑬𝒌,𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓
, the total kinetic energy of the system is not conserved

Momentum & Energy

• Moving objects have kinetic energy (the energy of motion). In a collision,

some of that energy may be changed into other forms.

• We say that a collision is elastic when kinetic energy is conserved

(is the same after collision as before).

• However, most collisions aren’t elastic. The total kinetic energy is less after
the collision because some kinetic energy is converted into thermal energy
(heat).
In this case, we say that the collision is inelastic.
 𝟏 𝟐
𝑬𝒌 = 𝒎𝒗
𝟐
𝐸𝑘,𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 = ½(500 x 52) + ½(400 x 22) = 7050J
𝐸𝑘,𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 = ½(500 x 32) + ½(400 x 4.52) = 6300J

• The collision is inelastic because the kinetic energy in NOT conserved.

THANK YOU!!!