MOMENTUM

Momentum
Change in momentum
Newton’s Second Law in terms of momentum
Impulse
Momentum
• Define momentum as the product of an object's mass and its velocity.
• Describe linear momentum as a vector quantity with the same direction as the velocity of the
object.
• Calculate the momentum of a moving object using p = mv.
• Describe the vector nature of momentum and illustrate it with some simple examples.
• Draw vector diagrams to illustrate the relationship between the initial momentum, the final
momentum and the change in momentum for each of the cases above.
Newton's second law in terms of momentum
• State Newton's second law of motion in terms of momentum: The net (or resultant) force
acting on an object is equal to the rate of change of momentum of the object in the direction
of the net force.
• Express Newton's second law of motion in symbols:

• Explain the relationship between net force and change in momentum for a variety of motions.
• Calculate the change in momentum when a resultant/net force acts on an object and its
velocity:
o Increases in the direction of motion, e.g. 2nd stage rocket engine fires
o Decreases, e.g. brakes are applied
o Reverses its direction of motion, e.g. a soccer ball kicked back in the direction it came
from
Impulse
• Define impulse as the product of the resultant/net force acting on an object and the time the
net force acts on the object.
• Use the impulse-momentum theorem, FnetΔt = mΔv, to calculate the resultant/net force
exerted, the time for which the force is applied and the change in momentum for a variety of
situations involving the motion of an object in one dimension.
• Explain how the concept of impulse applies to safety considerations in everyday life, e.g.
airbags, seatbelts and arrestor beds.
Momentu
m
p = mv Velocity (m∙s-1)

Momentum (kg∙m∙s-1) Mass (kg)

Momentum is a vector. It has MAGNITUDE and DIRECTION.

Example 1:
A car has a mass of 800 kg and moves at a velocity of 25 m∙s-1 East. What is the momentum of
the car?

Example 2:
A ball with a mass of 400g is kicked with a velocity of 15 m∙s-1 towards the goal. Calculate the
momentum of the ball.
 Change in
Momentum ∆p = m∆v Velocity (m∙s-1)

Change in momentum Mass (kg)

(kg∙m∙s-1)
always means change in… = final value – initial value.

∆ p = pf − pi ∆ v = vf − vi
Change in momentum can be cause by
the following:
∆ p = mv f − mv i 1. Change in mass of the object
2. Increase in velocity of the object
3. Decrease in velocity of the object
∆ p = m ( vf − vi ) 4. Change in direction of motion of the
object
Example 1:
A tennis ball with a mass of 120g, is hit and moves towards a wall with a velocity of 7 m∙s-1. The
ball hits the wall and rebounds with a velocity of 5 m∙s -1.
7 m∙s-
1

5 m∙s-
1

120 g

1. Determine the initial momentum of the ball.

2. Determine the final momentum of the ball.
3. Determine the change in momentum.
Momentum Vector Diagrams
• Momentum of 5 kg∙m∙s-1 East (Or Right) 5 kg∙m∙s-1

• Momentum of 7 kg∙m∙s-1 West (Or Left) 7 kg∙m∙s-1

Note the length of the arrows.

• Net momentum of 5 kg∙m∙s-1 East (Or Right) and 7 kg∙m∙s-1 East (Or Right)

Choose East (Or Right) as

positive.
5 kg∙m∙s-1 7 kg∙m∙s-1

pnet = 12
kg∙m∙s-1
 • Change in momentum of pf = 5 kg∙m∙s-1 East (Or Right) and pi = 7 kg∙m∙s-1 East (Or
Right)
5–7 Choose East (Or Right) as
–2 positive.
2 kg∙m∙s-1 West (Or Left)

Head-to-tail method Vector diagram method

5 7
kg∙m∙s-1 kg∙m∙s-1
7 5
kg∙m∙s-1 kg∙m∙s-1
p = 2 kg∙m∙s-1 p = 2 kg∙m∙s-1
• Change in momentum of pf = 5 kg∙m∙s-1 East (Or Right) and pi = 7 kg∙m∙s-1 West (Or
Left)
5 – (– 7) Choose East (Or Right) as
12 positive.
12 kg∙m∙s-1 East (Or Right)

7 kg∙m∙s-1 5
5 7 kg∙m∙s -1
kg∙m∙s-
kg∙m∙s- 1
1
p = 12 p = 12
kg∙m∙s-1 kg∙m∙s-1
Newton’s Second Law in Terms of Momentum
but

but ∆p
Example 2:
1. Andile hits a hockey ball of mass 180 g and a velocity of 10 m∙s-1 from behind with a hockey
stick. The velocity of the ball changes to 15 m∙s-1 in the original direction, Calculate the
change in momentum of the ball.
2. This time a hockey ball approaches Andile with a velocity of 10 m∙s-1 and she stops the ball
with the hockey stick. Calculate the change in momentum of the ball.
3. Lastly, a hockey ball approaches Andile with a velocity of 10 m∙s-1 and she hits the ball with
the hockey stick so that the ball moves at 15 m∙s-1 in the direction it came from. Calculate the
change in momentum of the ball.
 Change in momentum = Impulse

The direction of change in momentum

or impulse is ALWAYS in the direction
of the NET FORCE.
Comparison of the three cases
1 2 3
Original direction of
Forward Forward Forward
motion
Final direction of
motion after contact Forward None Backward
with stick
Magnitude of change
in momentum
Direction of change in
momentum
Impulse
Mass (kg)
Impulse
(N∙s)

F net ∆ t = m ∆ v Velocity (m∙s-1)

Force (N)
Change in momentum
(s) (kg∙m∙s-1)
Example 1:
Novac hits a tennis ball (mass 250 g) that is approaching him with a velocity of 23 m∙s-1 East. The
ball leaves the racket with a velocity of 28 m∙s-1 West. Calculate:

23 m∙s-
1

28 m∙s- 250
1
g

1. The impulse on the ball.

2. The force that the racket applies on the ball if the time of contact is 0,15s.
Example :
Sandile drops a rubber ball with a mass of 1,4 kg, vertically downwards. It
hits the ground and bounces back up. The graph shows the average net
force exerted on the ball by the ground as a function of time.

1. What physical quantity is

represented by the area under the
graph?
2. Calculate the change in
momentum of the ball.
3. If the ball hits the ground at 3
m∙s-1, calculate the speed at
which it leaves the ground.
Are you able to use momentum and change in momentum concepts to explain the following:
1. Airbags?
2. Crumple zones?
3. Arrestor beds?

Use word like IMPULSE, MOMENTUM, CHANGE IN MOMENTUM, TIME, FORCE

Give your answers in point form.

Give the mathematical relationship between the time of contact, and the net force assuming
the change in momentum remains constant.