ENGINEERING SCIENCE

LINEAR MOMENTUM
The momentum of a body is defined as the product of its mass and its velocity, i.e.
momentum = mu, where m = mass (in kg) and u = velocity (in m/s). The unit of momentum
is kg m/s. Since velocity is a vector quantity, momentum is a vector quantity, i.e. it has both
magnitude and direction.
The principle of conservation of momentum for a closed system (i.e. one on which no
external forces act) may be stated as: the total linear momentum of a system is a constant.
The total momentum of a system before collision in a given direction is equal to the total
momentum of the system after collision in the same direction.
In Fig below, masses m1 and m2 are travelling in the same direction with velocity
u1 > u2. A collision will occur, and applying the principle of conservation of momentum:
total momentum before impact = total momentum after impact
i.e. m1u1 + m2u2 = m1v1 + m2v2
where v1 and v2 are the velocities of m1 and m2 after impact.

m1 m2
u1 1 u2
Examples
Problem 1: Determine the momentum of a pile driver of mass 400 kg when it is moving
downwards with a speed of 12 m/s.
Soln
Momentum = mass × velocity = 400 kg × 12 m/s
=4800 kgm/s downwards
Problem 2 : A wagon of mass 10 tonne is moving at speed of 6m/s and collides with another
wagon of mass 15 tonne, which is stationary. After impact, the wagons are coupled together.
Determine the common velocity of the wagons after impact.
Solution
Mass m1 = 10t = 10000 kg, m2 = 15000 kg and velocity u1 = 6m/s, u2 = 0
Total momentum before impact = m1u1 + m2u2 = (10000 × 6) + (15000 × 0)
= 60000 kgm/s
Let the common velocity of the wagons after impact be v m/s
Since total momentum before impact D total momentum
after impact:
60 000 = m1v + m2v
=v(m1 + m2) =v(25000)
60000
Hence v = = 2.4m/s v = 2.4m/s
25000

Problem 3: A body has a mass of 30g and is moving with a velocity of 20 m/s. It collides with
a second body which has a mass of 20g and which is moving with a velocity of 15 m/s.
Assuming that the bodies both have the same velocity after impact, determine this common
velocity,
(a) when the initial velocities have the same line of action and the same sense, and
(b) when the initial velocities have the same line of action but are opposite in sense.

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Solution
Data Mass m1 = 30g = 0.030kg, m2 = 20g = 0.020kg, velocity u1 = 20m/s and u2 = 15m/s.

(a) When the velocities have the same line of action and the same sense, both u1 and u2
are considered as positive values.
Total momentum before impact = m1u1 + m2u2 = (0.030 × 20) + (0.020×15)
= 0.60 + 0.30 = 0.90 kgm/s
Let the common velocity after impact be v m/s
Total momentum before impact = total momentum after impact
i.e. 0.90 = m1v + m2v = v(m1 + m2)
0.90 = v(0.030 + 0.020)
0.90
from which, common velocity, v = = 18m/s in the direction in which the bodies are
0.050
initially travelling.
(b) When the velocities have the same line of action but are opposite in sense, one is
considered as positive and the other negative. Taking the direction of mass m1 as
positive gives: velocity u1 = +20 m/s and u2 = -15 m/s.
Total momentum before impact = m1u1 + m2u2 = (0.030×20) + (0.020×-15)
= 0.60 - 0.30 = +0.30 kgm/s
and since it is positive this indicates a momentum in the same direction as that of mass m1. If
the common velocity after impact is v m/s then
0.30 = v(m1+ m2) = v(0.050)
0.30
from which, common velocity, v = = 6m/s in the direction that the 30g mass is initially
0.050
travelling.
Problem 4: A wagon of mass 8 t is moving at a speed of 5m/s and collides with another wagon
of mass 12 t, which is stationary. After impact, the wagons are coupled together. Determine
the common velocity of the wagons after impact.
Problem 5: A car of mass 800 kg was stationary when hit head on by a lorry of mass 2000 kg
travelling at 15m/s. Assuming no brakes are applied and the car and lorry move as one,
determine the speed of the wreckage immediately after collision.
Problem 6: A body has a mass of 25 g and is moving with a velocity of 30 m/s. It collides with
a second body which has a mass of 15 g and which is moving with a
velocity of 20 m/s. Assuming that the bodies both have the same speed after impact, determine
their common velocity
(a) when the speeds have the same line of action and the same sense, and
(b) when the speeds have the same line of action but are opposite in sense.

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ENGINEERING SCIENCE

SIMPLY SUPPORTED BEAMS

The moment of a force
This turning effect of a force is called the moment of a force or more briefly, just a moment.
The size of the moment acting on a body depends on two factors:
(a) the size of the force acting at right angles to the body, and
(b) the perpendicular distance between the point of application of the force and the centre of
the body.
In general, the moment M of a force acting about a point P is forced × perpendicular distance
between the line of action of the force and P, i.e.

M=F×d

The unit of a moment is the newton metre (Nm)

Example
Problem 1. A force of 15N is applied to a spanner at an effective length of 140mm from the
centre of a nut. Calculate (a) the moment of the force applied to the nut, (b) the magnitude of
the force required to produce the same moment if the effective length is reduced to 100 mm.

Solution

(a) Turning moment, M = 15N × 0.14 = 2.1Nm

(b) Turning moment, M is 2.1Nm and the effective length d becomes 100mm (see Fig. (b)).
Applying M = F × d gives: 2.1Nm = F × 0.1 m
2.1Nm
from which, force, F = = 21N
0.1𝑚

EQUILIBRIUM AND THE PRINCIPLE OF MOMENTS

Consider the figure

Figure a

A beam is said to be in equilibrium when there is no tendency for it to move. There are two
conditions for equilibrium:
The sum of the forces acting vertically downwards must be equal to the sum of the forces
acting vertically upwards, i.e. for Fig. a,
Rp = F1 + F2
The total moment of the forces acting on a beam must be zero; for the total moment to be
zero:
the sum of the clockwise moments about any point must be equal to the sum of the
anticlockwise moments about that point. This statement is known as the principle of
moments.
Hence, taking moments about P in Fig. a,

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F2 × b = the clockwise moment, and

F1 × d = the anticlockwise moment
Thus, for equilibrium: F1a = F2b
Problem 2. A beam is supported at its centre on a fulcrum (pivot) and forces act as shown in
Fig below. Calculate (a) force F for the beam to be in equilibrium, (b) the new position of the
23N force when F is decreased to 21 N, if equilibrium is to be maintained.

Solution
A) Clockwise moment: M1 = 23 × 100 = 2300Nmm
Anti-clockwise moment: M2 = (F × 20) + (12 × 80) Nmm
Applying the principle of moments about the fulcrum: clockwise moment = anticlockwise
moments i.e. 2300 = (F × 20) + (12 × 80)
Hence F × 20 = 2300 - 960
1340
i.e. force, F = = 67N
20
B) Clockwise moment: 23 × d
Anti-clockwise moment : (21 × 20) + (12 × 80) Nmm
Applying the principle of moments,
23 × d = (21 × 20) + (12 × 80)
420 + 960 1380
i.e. distance, d = = = 60mm
23 23
Problem 3. For the centrally supported uniform beam shown in Fig. below, determine the
values of forces F1 and F2 when the beam is in equilibrium.

Solution
At equilibrium: (i) R = F1 + F2 i.e. 5 = F1 + F2 …. (1)
and (ii) F1 × 3 = F2 × 7 …... (2)
From equation (1), F2 = 5 - F1
Substituting for F2 in equation (2) gives:
F1 × 3 = (5 - F1) × 7
i.e. 3F1 = 35 - 7F1
10F1 = 35 from which, F1 = 3.5kN
Since F2 = 5 - F1, F2 = 1.5kN
Thus, at equilibrium, force F1 = 3.5kN and force F2 = 1.5kN
SIMPLY SUPPORTED BEAMS HAVING POINT LOADS
A simply supported beam is one which rests on two supports and is free to move horizontally.
Typical practical applications of simply supported beams with point loadings include bridges,
beams in buildings, and beds of machine tools.

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ENGINEERING SCIENCE

Problem 4. A beam is loaded as shown in Fig. # Determine (a) the force acting on the beam
support at B, (b) the force acting on the beam support at A, neglecting the mass of the beam.

Figure #
Solution
(a) Taking moments about point A and applying the principle of moments gives:
clockwise moments = anticlockwise moments
[(2 × 0.2) + (7 × 0.5) + (3 × 0.8)] kNm = RB × 1.0m,
Thus (0.4 + 3.5 + 2.4) kNm = RB × 1.0m
6.3 kNm
i.e. RB = 1.0m = 6.3kN
(b) For the beam to be in equilibrium, the forces acting upwards must be equal to the forces
acting downwards,
thus, RA + RB = (2 + 7 + 3) kN, RB = 6.3 kN,
thus RA = 12 - 6.3 = 5.7kN
Problem 5. For the beam shown in Fig. 21.12 calculate (a) the force acting on support A, (b)
distance d, neglecting any forces arising from the mass of the beam.

Solution
(a) From fig above, (the forces acting in an upward direction) = (the forces acting in a
downward direction)
Hence (RA + 40) N = (10 + 15 + 30) N
RA = 10 + 15 + 30 - 40 = 15N
(b) Taking moments about the left-hand end of the beam and applying the principle of moments
gives: clockwise moments = anticlockwise moments
(10 × 0.5) + (15 × 2.0) Nm + 30N × d = (15 × 1.0) + (40 × 2.5) Nm
i.e. 35Nm + 30N × d = 115Nm
(115 – 35)Nm
from which, distance, d = = 2.67m
30𝑁

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