Topic 4 – Dynamics AS Level

4.3 – Conservation of Linear Momentum 2. In an elastic collision, the trolleys move

apart with different velocity 𝑣1 and 𝑣2
Learning Outcomes
after collision. From the principle of
 state the principle of conservation of conservation of momentum
momentum
 apply the principle of conservation of 𝑚1 𝑢1 + 𝑚2 𝑢2 = 𝑚1 𝑣1 + 𝑚2 𝑣2
momentum to solve simple problems,
including elastic and inelastic
interactions between bodies in both
one and two dimensions
 recognise that, for a perfectly elastic
collision, the relative speed of
approach is equal to the relative speed
of separation
 understand that, while momentum is
conserved in interactions between
bodies, some change in kinetic energy 3. In an inelastic collision, both trolleys
may take place stick together and move with common
velocity v after collision. From the
principle of conservation of momentum
Conservation of Momentum
𝑚1 𝑢1 + 𝑚2 𝑢2 = (𝑚1 + 𝑚2 )v

1. Principle of conservation of momentum:

In a collision, the total momentum of
the objects before the collision is
equal to the total momentum after the
collision, provided that there is no
external force acting on the system.
Elastic Collision
Total momentum = Total momentum 1. Elastic collision is the collision where
before collision after collision the kinetic energy is conserved after
the collision.

Total Kinetic Energy = Total Kinetic Energy

before Collision after Collision

2. In a perfectly elastic collision, the 2

objects separated right after the
collision, and the momentum is
conserved after the collision.
3. Total energy is conserved after the
collision.

1
Topic 4 – Dynamics
Note:
Since kinetic energy is conserved in an
elastic collision, the relative speed of
approach is equal to the relative speed of
separation.
Inelastic Collision
1. Inelastic collision is the collision where
the kinetic energy is not conserved
after the collision.
Total Kinetic Energy ≠ Total Kinetic Energy
before Collision after Collision
2. In a perfectly inelastic collision, the 2
objects attach together after the
collision, and the momentum is also
conserved after the collision.
3. Total energy is conserved after the
collision.
Note:
In an inelastic collision, some change in K.E
takes place although the momentum of the
system is conserved. The loss of energy is
due to the internal energy, heat loss to
surroundings, sound & light energy.
Example 1
Trolley P and Q of the same mass move
towards each other as shown in the figure
below. What is their common velocity if
both the trolleys stick together after
collision in term of v.
2
AS Level
Example 2
A trolley P with mass of 2 kg moving with a
velocity of 5 m s-1 collided with a trolley Q
of mass 5 kg moving with velocity of 2 m s-1
in the same direction. Find the momentum
of the system after collision.
[20 kg m s-1]
Example 3
Trolley A and B move along a straight line in
opposite directions with the same speed of
2.5 m s-1. If the masses of objects A and B
are 2 kg and 4 kg respectively, what is the
total momentum of the trolley?
[-5 kg m s-1]
Example 4
A 35.0g bullet moving at 475 m s-1 strikes a
2.5 kg wooden block. The bullet passes
through the block, leaving at 275 m s-1. The
block was at rest when it was hit. How fast
is it moving when the bullet leaves?
[2.8 m/s]
Example 5
Car A of mass 600 kg moving at 40 m s-1
collides with a car B of mass 800 kg moving
at 20 m s-1 in the same direction. If car B
moves forwards at 30 ms-1 by the impact,
what is the velocity, v, of the car A
immediately after the crash?
Topic 4 – Dynamics
Example 6
-1
A 0.50 kg ball traveling at 6.0 m s collides
head-on with a 1.0 kg ball moving in the
-1
opposite direction at a speed of 12.0 m s .
The 0.50 kg ball moves backward at a speed
-1
of 14.0 m s after the collision. Find the
velocity of the second ball after collision.
Example 7
A lorry of mass 8000 kg is moving with a
velocity of 30 m s-1. The lorry is then
collides with a car of mass 1500 kg moving in
the same direction with at 20 m s-1. After
the collision, both the vehicles attach
together and move with a velocity v. Find
the value of v.
Example 8
A 0.105 kg hockey puck moving at 48 m s is -1
caught by a 75 kg goalie at rest. With what
velocity does the goalie slide on the ice
after catching the puck?
Example 9
A bullet of mass 20 g is fired towards a
stationary target with a mass of 2 kg. The
bullet is embedded in the target and both
move together at a common velocity of
2 m s-1. Find the velocity of the bullet
before hitting the target.
3
AS Level
Example 10
A car of mass 1200 kg involved in a collision
with a lorry of mass 4800 kg travelling at
79.2 km h-1. After collision, the car and the
lorry were locked together and moving at a
velocity of 21.6 km h-1. Find the velocity of
the car before the collision.
Example 11
Two spheres of mass m1 and m2 are moving
towards one another along the straight line.
The spheres have velocity u1 and u2, as
illustrated in diagram. After impact, the
spheres stick together and move off with
velocity, V.
(a) State and explain whether the collision
is elastic or inelastic.
(b) Taking the direction of final velocity V
as positive, in terms of m1, m2, u1, u2 and
V, write down an equation to represent
the change in momentum of
(i) The sphere of mass m1
(ii) The sphere of mass m2
(c) Using answer in (b), write down an
equation to represent the conservation
of momentum.
Topic 4 – Dynamics AS Level

Collision in 2-Dimension Therefore,

A ball of mass m = 1.0 kg moving with an
m1u1y + m2u2y = m1v1y + m2v2y
initial speed u = 0.5 m s-1 collides with a
stationary ball of the same mass. After m1u1y + m20 = m1v1y + m2v2y
collision, both move at the same speed and
m1u1y = m1v1y + m2v2y
angle as shown. What is their speed?

Step 3
v2 (after) v1 (after)
Substitute the values into the equation.

Given that both objects have the same mass

u2 = 0 (before)
m1 = m2 = m = 1.0 kg

and moved at the same speed after collision

u1 (before)
v1y = v2y = vy = v cos 45o

Therefore
m1u1y = m1v1y + m2v2y
Step 1
To solve this problem, resolve momentum mu1y = mvy + mvy
into the vertical & horizontal components.
mu1y = 2mvy
In horizontal,
u1y = 2vy
u1x = 0 and u2x = 0
u1y = 2v cos 45o
o o
v1x = v sin 45 and v2x = -v sin 45
u1y
v=
2 cos 45°
Note: v1x and v2x are equal in magnitude 0.5
v=
but opposite in direction. Therefore, 2 cos 45°
momentum in the horizontal component v = 0.354 m s-1
are equal to 0.

In vertical, Step 4
-1
u1y = u = 0.5 m s and u2y = 0 Based on the calculation, deduce the
motion after the collision.
v1y = v cos 45o and v2y = v cos 45o
After collision, both objects moves at a
speed of 0.354 m s-1 at an angle of 45o from
Step 2 the initial direction of the white ball.
Based on the principle of conservation of
momentum:

Total momentum Total momentum

in the y-component = in the y-component
before collision after collision

4
Topic 4 – Dynamics AS Level

Example 12
Diagram below shows the momentum vectors
for particles 1 and 2, before & after collision
Example 13
An 8.0 kg mass collides elastically with a 5.0
kg mass that is at rest. Initially, the 8.0 kg
mass was traveling to the right at 4.5 m/s.
After the collision, it is moving with a speed
of 3.65 m/s and at an angle of 27° to its
original direction. What is the final speed
and direction of motion for the 5.0 kg mass?

Show that momentum is conserved in this

collision.

5
Topic 4 – Dynamics
Example 14
A snooker ball collides with a second
identical ball as shown.
(a) Determine the components of the velocity
of the 1st ball in the x and y-directions.
(b) Determine the components of the velocity
of the 2nd ball in the x and y-directions.
(c) Determine the velocity (magnitude &
direction) of the 2nd ball.
6
AS Level
Example 15
Two objects slide over a horizontal surface.
The 1st object m1 = 5 kg propelled with a
speed u1 = 4.5 m s-1 toward the second object
m2 = 2.5 kg, which is initially at rest. After
the collision, both objects have velocities
which are directed θ = 30o on either side of
the original line of motion of the first
object. What are the final speeds of the two
objects? Is the collision elastic or inelastic?
Topic 4 – Dynamics AS Level

Example 16 Assignment
Calculate the velocity of 8-kg ball after the 1. [JUN11/11/9] A body of mass m, moving at
collision. velocity v, collides with a stationary body of
the same mass and sticks to it. Which row
describes the momentum and kinetic
energy of the two bodies after the collision?
A

2. [NOV10/11/12] Two experiments are

carried out using two trolleys of equal
mass. All moving parts of the trolleys are
frictionless, as is the surface that the
trolleys move over. In both experiments,
trolley X moves towards trolley Y, which is
initially stationary. After the collision in
experiment 1, X is stationary and Y moves
off to the right. After the collision in
experiment 2, the trolleys join and move
off together. What types of collision occur
in these experiments? B

7
Topic 4 – Dynamics AS Level

5. [JUN10/11/10] Two equal masses travel

towards each other on a frictionless air
track at speeds of 60 cm s–1 and 40 cm s–1.
They stick together on impact. What is the
speed of the masses after impact?

3. [JUN11/12/13] The diagram shows a

particle P, travelling at speed v, about to
collide with a stationary particle Q of the
same mass. The collision is perfectly elastic.
Which statement describes the motion of P
and of Q immediately after the collision?
A. 10 cm s–1
1 B. 20 cm s–1
A. P rebounds with speed 2v and Q
1
C. 40 cm s–1
acquires speed 2v. D. 50 cm s–1
B. P rebounds with speed v and Q
remains stationary.
C. P and Q both travel in the same
1
direction with speed 2v.
D. P comes to a standstill and Q acquires
speed v.
6. [JUN10/11/12] The diagram shows two
identical spheres X and Y. Initially, X moves
with speed v directly towards Y. Y is
stationary. The spheres collide elastically.
What happens? D

4. [NOV09/11/9] The diagram shows two

spherical masses approaching each other
head-on at an equal speed u. One has mass
2m and the other has mass m. Which
diagram, showing the situation after the
collision, shows the result of an elastic
collision? A