REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

CAVITE CAMPUS
Carlos Q. Trinidad Avenue, Salawag, Dasmariñas City, Cavite, Philippines
Telefax: (046) 416-4920
Email: cavite@tup.edu.ph │ Website: www.tup.edu.ph

DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCES

MODULE IN PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGISTS

UNIT 1.

MOMENTUM AND COLLISIONS

Prepared by:
DARIUS L. FAJARDO
Faculty, DMS
January 13, 2020

TUPC-F-OQA-DCG-14 ØØ (11.19.18)
 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
CAVITE CAMPUS
Carlos Q. Trinidad Avenue, Salawag, Dasmariñas City, Cavite, Philippines
Telefax: (046) 416-4920
Email: cavite@tup.edu.ph │ Website: www.tup.edu.ph

DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCES

Table of Contents

Overview 1
Specific Objectives 1
1.1 LINEAR MOMENTUM 1
1.2 MOMENTUM AND IMPULSE 2
1.3 CONSERVATION OF MOMENTUM & COLLISIONS 3
1.4 SAMPLE PROBLEMS 4
Additional Readings 5
References 5
Assessment 6
Tools 6
Deadline 6

TUPC-F-OQA-DCG-14 ØØ (11.19.18)
Module in Physics for Engineering Technologist
Revision no. 01
Effectivity: January 13, 2020

This module belongs to: 1.1 LINEAR MOMENTUM

Name 1.1.1 Definition of Linear Momentum

________________________________________ • The linear momentum 𝑝𝑝⃗ of an object of

mass m moving with a velocity 𝑣𝑣⃗ is
Course/Year defined as the product of the mass and
the velocity
________________________________________

Teacher

________________________________________ • SI Units are kg∙m/s

• Vector quantity, the direction of the
momentum is the same as the velocity’s
UNIT 1 • Faster and heavier objects have greater
momentum. This is why it is difficult to
MOMENTUM AND COLLISIONS make them stop. Great net force is
needed to stop them in short time.
Week/s active: 3–4
Inclusive days: 5–7
Dates active: ___________________

OVERVIEW
This unit introduces the concept of momentum
which is vital for describing objects in motion. This
concept (which is related to mass and velocity)
leads us to the concept of impulse and
conservation of momentum which is the major
conservative law to treat problems involving
collisions between objects.
• Momentum is also used to predict what
happen to bodies after collision.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
At the end of the chapter the student should be
able to:
1. Define momentum and impulse.
2. Solve problems involving impulse-
momentum theorem;
3. Identify types of collisions; and
4. Apply conservation of momentum to
analyze collisions.
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Unit 1. Momentum and Collisions

Module in Physics for Engineering Technologist
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Effectivity: January 13, 2020

1.1.2 Momentum components

• Momentum is a vector therefore it is

desirable to analyze them in terms of
their components specially when dealing
two-dimensional motion

• The net force, ΣF, acting on a body is

equal to the time rate of change of
momentum of the body.

• This equation explains that, a gradual

change in momentum requires less force
and a sudden change of momentum
requires greater force.

1.1.3 Linear Momentum and Kinetic Energy

• Difference between momentum and

kinetic energy
1. Kinetic energy is a scalar, whereas
momentum is a vector.
2. Kinetic energy can transform to other
types of energy such as potential
energy, whereas there is only one
type of linear momentum so no
transformation will occur.
• Momentum is related to kinetic energy 1.2.2 Impulse

• From the relationship between net force

and momentum, another vector quantity
can be considered. This quantity is called
impulse.
• Impulse is the product of the net force
1.2 MOMENTUM AND IMPULSE and the time in which the net force acts
on the body.
1.2.1 Momentum and Newton’s Second Law

• Momentum is related to Newton’s second

law of motion since when a body
accelerates or decelerates the • The SI units are N∙s
momentum will change. • The direction of impulse is the same as
2

the direction of net force acting on the

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object.
Unit 1. Momentum and Collisions
Module in Physics for Engineering Technologist
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Effectivity: January 13, 2020

• The impulse is equal to the area under the

force-time curve.

• The impulse of the average force equals

the impulse of the actual time-varying 1.3.2 Collisions in One Dimension
force.
• Collision refers to an event during which
two bodies come close to each other and
interact by means of force.
• Types of Collision
1. Elastic collision
2. Inelastic collision
• Elastic collision is one in which both total
kinetic energy and total momentum of
the system is the same before and after
the collision. Hence, both momentum and
kinetic energy are conserved.
1.2.3 Impulse-momentum Theorem

• “The change in momentum of a body

during a time interval is equal to the
impulse of the net force that acts on the
body.”

1.3 CONSERVATION OF MOMENTUM &

COLLISIONS

1.3.1 Conservation of Momentum

• Whenever two or more particles in an

isolated system interact, the total
momentum of the system does not
change if there are not external forces on
• Inelastic collision is one in which only the
total momentum of the system is the
same before and after the collision.
Hence, kinetic energy is not conserved.
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the system.
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• Inelastic collision has two types:

Unit 1. Momentum and Collisions

Module in Physics for Engineering Technologist
Revision no. 01
Effectivity: January 13, 2020
1. Perfect inelastic
2. Inelastic collision
• Perfect inelastic collision is a type of
collision when the objects stick together
after they collide.
• For inelastic collision (which is not
perfect) they separate after they collide.
1.3.3 Coefficient of Restitution
• Coefficient of Restitution, e is a measure
of the elastic properties of colliding
bodies.
• It is the ratio of the negative of the
relative velocity after collision and relative
velocity before collision.
• Values of coefficient of restitution
1. e = 1, Elastic collision
2. e < 1, Inelastic collision
3. e = 0, Perfect inelastic collision
Unit 1. Momentum and Collisions
1.3.4 Collisions in Two-Dimensions
1.4 SAMPLE PROBLEMS
1.4.1 Linear Momentum
1. (a) What is the momentum of a car which
has a mass of 815 kg traveling at a
velocity of 25 m/s? (b) What should be
the velocity of a 2,000 kg truck in order to
have the same momentum as the car? (c)
Do they have the same amount of kinetic
energy?
2. Find the components of momentum of a
0.25-kg ball thrown with an initial velocity
of 15 m/s 30° above the horizontal.
1.4.2 Momentum and Impulse
1. In a particular crash test, a car of mass
1,500 kg collides with a wall as shown in
the figure below. The initial and final
velocities of the car are – 15.0 m/s and
2.60 m/s, respectively. If the collisions last
0.150 s, find the impulse caused by the
collision and the average net force
exerted on the car.
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Module in Physics for Engineering Technologist
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Effectivity: January 13, 2020
2. A soccer ball has a mass of 0.40 kg.
Initially, it is moving to the left at 20 m/s
but then it is kicked and given a velocity at
45° upward to the right at 30 m/s. Find (a)
the impulse of the net force & (b) the
average net force assuming a collision
time of 0.01 s.
1.4.3 Conservation of Momentum and
Collisions
1. A 60-kg archer stands at rest on
frictionless ice and fires a 0.030-kg arrow
horizontally at 85 m/s. With what velocity
does the archer move across the ice after
firing the arrow?
2. A 1,800-kg car stopped at a traffic light is
struck from the rear by a 900-kg car. The
two cars become entangled, moving along
the same path as that of the originally
moving car. If the smaller car were
moving at 20.0 m/s before the collision,
(a) what is the velocity of the entangled
cars after the collision? (b) Determine the
total kinetic of the two cars before and
after collision.
3. A block of mass m 1 = 1.60 kg initially
moving to the right with a speed of 4.00
m/s on a frictionless, horizontal track
collides with a light spring attached to a
second block of mass m 2 = 2.10 kg initially
moving to the left with a speed of 2.50
m/s as shown in the figure below. The
spring constant is 600 N/m. (a) Find the
velocities of the two blocks after the
Unit 1. Momentum and Collisions
collision. (b) Determine the velocity of
block 2 during the collision, at the instant
block 1 is moving to the right with a
velocity of 3.00 m/s. (c) Determine the
distance the spring is compressed at that
instant. (d) Determine the maximum
compression of the spring?
4. Two blocks A & B move toward each
other on a frictionless horizontal surface.
Before collision, block A moves to the
right at 5 m/s while block B to the left at
10 m/s. If the masses of blocks A & B are 7
kg and 5 kg, respectively, find (a) the
velocities of blocks after collision if the
collision is inelastic with e = 0.60, (b) the
total kinetic energy before and after
collision, & (c) the energy loss.
5. A small compact car with mass of 1,000 kg
is traveling north at 15 m/s. At the
intersection it collides with an enormous
luxury car with mass 2,000 kg traveling
east at 10 m/s. Fortunately, all occupants
are wearing seat belts and there are no
injuries, but the two cars thoroughly
tangled and move away from the impact
point as one mass. What is the velocity of
the wreckage after collision?
ADDITIONAL READINGS
• Any Physics books specially in the
reference list
REFERENCES
1. Serway and Vuille (2012), College Physics, 9th
Edition, Cengage Learning
2. Serway and Jewett (2014), Physics for
Scientists and Engineers, 9th Edition, Brooks/
Cole Cengage Learning
5
3. Microsoft Student with Encarta Premium 2009
Page
DVD
Module in Physics for Engineering Technologist
Revision no. 01
Effectivity: January 13, 2020

ASSESSMENT

1. Reading reflection (KWL Chart)

2. Problem set no. 1
3. Quiz no. 1 (for Unit 1)

TOOLS

1. Modules
2. Power point

DEADLINES
Reading reflection (KWL Chart) no. 1
Date:
_____________________________________

Problem set no. 1

Date:
_____________________________________

Problem set no. 1

Date:
_____________________________________

6
Page

Unit 1. Momentum and Collisions

 1

Problem Set no. 1 MOMENTUM AND COLLISIONS

Name: _____________________________________________ Seat no.: _____ Score: __________/

Course/Year/Sec: _____________Sem. /S.Y.: ___________ Instructor: _______________________________
Date Started: _________________ Date Finished: _________________Date Submitted: _________________

Directions
1. Write the solution to each question on separate short bond paper. Follow the format as explained by
your teacher.
2. Summarize all your answers on the “Summary of Answers” section provided.

Summary of Answers

1. ______________________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________________________________
4. ______________________________________________________________________________
5. ______________________________________________________________________________
6. ______________________________________________________________________________
7. ______________________________________________________________________________
8. ______________________________________________________________________________
9. ______________________________________________________________________________
 2

Problems
1. An object has a kinetic energy of 275 J and a momentum of magnitude 25.0 kg-m/s. Find the speed
and mass of the object.
2. A baseball approaches home plate at a speed of 45.0 m/s, moving horizontally just before being hit
by a bat. The batter hits a pop-up such that after hitting the bat, the baseball is moving at 55.0 m/s
straight up. The ball has a mass of 145 g and is in contact with the bat for 2.00 ms. What is the
magnitude of the average vector force the ball exerts on the bat during their interaction?
3. After a 0.300-kg rubber ball is dropped from a height of 1.75 m, it bounces off a concrete floor and
rebounds to a height of 1.50 m. (a) Determine the magnitude and direction of the impulse delivered
to the ball by the floor. (b) Estimate the time the ball is in contact with the floor and use this
estimate to calculate the average force the floor exerts on the ball.
4. A 65.0-kg boy and his 40.0-kg sister, both wearing roller blades, face each other at rest. The girl
pushes the boy hard, sending him backward with velocity 2.90 m/s toward the west. Ignore friction.
Describe the subsequent motion of the girl.
5. A 2,500-kg truck moving at 10.00 m/s strikes a car waiting at a traffic light, hooking bumpers. The
two continue to move together at 7.00 m/s. What was the mass of the struck car?
6. A railroad car of mass 2.50 x 104 kg is moving with a speed of 4.00 m/s. It collides and couples with
three other coupled railroad cars, each of the same mass as the single car and moving in the same
direction with an initial speed of 2.00 m/s. (a) What is the speed of the four cars after the collision?
(b) How much mechanical energy is lost in the collision?
7. Two blocks of masses m and 3m are placed on a frictionless, horizontal surface. A light spring is
attached to the more massive block, and the blocks are pushed together with the spring between
them as shown in the figure below. A cord initially holding the blocks together is burned; after that
happens, the block of mass 3m moves to the right with a speed of 2.00 m/s. (a) What is the velocity
of the block of mass m? (b) Find the system’s original elastic potential energy, taking m = 0.350 kg.

8. A 1200-kg car traveling initially at 25.0 m/s in an easterly direction crashes into the back of a 9,000-
kg truck moving in the same direction at 20.0 m/s. The velocity of the car immediately after the
collision is 18.0 m/s to the east. (a) What is the velocity of the truck immediately after the collision?
(b) What is the change in mechanical energy of the car–truck system in the collision?
9. Two ice skaters, Clark and Charles, are practicing in the preparation for a competition. Clark’s mass is
75.0 kg and Charles’ mass is 50 kg. Clark stops to tie his shoelace and, while at rest, is struck by
Charles, who is moving at 13 m/s before she collides with him. After the collision, Charles has a
velocity of magnitude 10 m/s at an angle of 37° from her initial direction. What is the magnitude of
the velocity of Clark and in what angle from the initial velocity of Charles? Both skaters move on a
frictionless horizontal surface of the rink. [Hint: Use conservation of momentum in 2-dimensional.
Solve for the x- and y-components of Clark’s velocity after collision then solve for the angle.]