Chapter –V:

Conservation of Linear Momentum

Contents:
• Centre of mass
• Motion of a system of particles and its linear momentum
• Conservation of linear momentum for a system of particles
• Application of the linear momentum in the case of rocket
propulsion
• Collision phenomena

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogiY6xt_TRM
Centre of mass:
Y
𝑚1 + 𝑚2 𝑥𝑐𝑚 = 𝑀𝑥𝑐𝑚 = 𝑚1 𝑥1 + 𝑚2 𝑥2

𝑚1 𝑥1 + 𝑚2 𝑥2
𝑥𝑐𝑚 =
𝑚1 + 𝑚2 xcm
m1 m2
X
σ 𝑚𝑖 𝑥𝑖 1 0 x1
C
𝑥𝑐𝑚 = = ෍ 𝑚𝑖 𝑥𝑖 … … … … (1)
σ 𝑚𝑖 𝑀 x2

xcm is the mass weighted mean length Fig.1: Centre of Mass of a

system of two particles
of x1 and x2
Similarly, we can write

σ 𝑚𝑖 𝑦𝑖 1
𝑦𝑐𝑚 = = ෍ 𝑚𝑖 𝑦𝑖 … … … … (2) The center of mass
σ 𝑚𝑖 𝑀
of a system of
σ 𝑚𝑖 𝑧𝑖 1 particles depends
𝑧𝑐𝑚 = = ෍ 𝑚𝑖 𝑧𝑖 … … … … (3)
σ 𝑚𝑖 𝑀 only on the masses
of the particles and
Therefore, for 3D space we have, the positions of the
particles relative to
σ 𝑚𝑖 𝑟𝑖 1 one another
𝑟𝑐𝑚 = = ෍ 𝑚𝑖 𝑟𝑖 … … … … (4)
σ 𝑚𝑖 𝑀

𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑟𝑐𝑚 = 𝑖𝑥𝑐𝑚 + 𝑗𝑦𝑐𝑚 + 𝑘𝑧𝑐𝑚

 For a continuous large body which can be subdivided into
mass elements of ∆mi with different positions of xi , yi and zi

σ ∆𝑚𝑖 𝑥𝑖 σ ∆𝑚𝑖 𝑥𝑖 ‫ 𝑚𝑑𝑥 ׬‬1

𝑥𝑐𝑚 = 𝑂𝑟, 𝑥𝑐𝑚 = lim = = න 𝑥𝑑𝑚
σ ∆𝑚𝑖 ∆𝑚𝑖 →0 σ ∆𝑚𝑖 ‫𝑚𝑑 ׬‬ 𝑀

σ ∆𝑚𝑖 𝑦𝑖 σ ∆𝑚𝑖 𝑦𝑖 ‫ 𝑚𝑑𝑦 ׬‬1

𝑦𝑐𝑚 = 𝑂𝑟, 𝑦𝑐𝑚 = lim = = න 𝑦𝑑𝑚
σ ∆𝑚𝑖 ∆𝑚𝑖 →0 σ ∆𝑚𝑖 ‫𝑚𝑑 ׬‬ 𝑀

σ ∆𝑚𝑖 𝑧𝑖 σ ∆𝑚𝑖 𝑧𝑖 ‫ 𝑚𝑑𝑧 ׬‬1

𝑧𝑐𝑚 = 𝑂𝑟, 𝑧𝑐𝑚 = lim = = න 𝑧𝑑𝑚
σ ∆𝑚𝑖 ∆𝑚𝑖 →0 σ ∆𝑚𝑖 ‫𝑚𝑑 ׬‬ 𝑀
Therefore, the vector expression of the previous
relations

1
𝒓𝑐𝑚 = න 𝒓𝑑𝑚 … … (5)
𝑀
 How can we determine the
Centre of mass of these objects
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4KhrJJvD3w
https://efcms.engr.utk.edu/ef151-2019-08/sys.php?f=bolt/bolt-main&c=class-4-3&p=mmi
Motion of a system of particles
Lets a system is consists of n particles of mass m1 , m2 , m3 , ………….. mn
respectively. The total mass of the system is M and remains constant
with time.

𝑀𝑟𝑐𝑚 = 𝑚1 𝑟1 + 𝑚2 𝑟2 + 𝑚3 𝑟3 + … … … + 𝑚𝑛 𝑟𝑛 ; … … … … … … … (6)
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑟𝑐𝑚 𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠

Differentiating the Eq-(6),

𝑑𝑟𝑐𝑚 𝑑𝑟1 𝑑𝑟2 𝑑𝑟3 𝑑𝑟𝑛
𝑀 = 𝑚1 + 𝑚2 + 𝑚3 + … … … + 𝑚𝑛 … … … (7)
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
Or, 𝑀𝑣𝑐𝑚 = 𝑚1 𝑣1 + 𝑚2 𝑣2 + 𝑚3 𝑣3 + … … … + 𝑚𝑛 𝑣𝑛 … … … … … … (8)

Again differentiating Eq- (8)

𝑑𝑣𝑐𝑚 𝑑𝑣1 𝑑𝑣2 𝑑𝑣3 𝑑𝑣𝑛
𝑀 = 𝑚1 + 𝑚2 + 𝑚3 + … … … + 𝑚𝑛 … … … (9)
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡

Or, 𝑀𝑎𝑐𝑚 = 𝑚1 𝑎1 + 𝑚2 𝑎2 + 𝑚3 𝑎3 + … … … + 𝑚𝑛 𝑎𝑛
Or, 𝑀𝑎𝑐𝑚 = 𝐹1 + 𝐹2 + 𝐹3 + … … … + 𝐹𝑛
Or, 𝑀𝑎𝑐𝑚 = 𝐹𝑒𝑥𝑡. … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … (10)

𝐴𝑙𝑙 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠

Linear momentum of a system of particles
Momentum of a particle of mass m is
𝑝 = 𝑚𝑣 … … … … … … … … … … … . … … (11)
𝑑𝑣 𝑑(𝑚𝑣) 𝑑𝑝
Again, Force 𝐹=𝑚 = = … … … … … … … … . (12)
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡

Relativistic case:
𝑚0 𝑣 𝑚0 𝑣
𝑝 = 𝑚𝑣 = ; 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒, 𝑚 = … … … … … … . (13)
𝑣2 𝑣2
1− 2 1− 2
𝑐 𝑐
So for a system of particle the momentum is as below:
𝑝 = 𝑝1 + 𝑝2 + 𝑝3 + … … … . . … … … … … … … + 𝑝𝑛
Or, 𝑝 = 𝑚1 𝑣1 + 𝑚1 𝑣1 + 𝑚1 𝑣1 +………………..… ……… …+ 𝑚𝑛 𝑣𝑛
𝑑𝑝 𝑑𝑣1 𝑑𝑣2 𝑑𝑣3 𝑑𝑣𝑛
Or, = 𝑚1 + 𝑚2 + 𝑚3 +…………………..…..…+ 𝑚𝑛
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑝
Or, = 𝑚1 𝑎1 + 𝑚2 𝑎2 + 𝑚3 𝑎3 +………………….……..……..+ 𝑚𝑛 𝑎𝑛
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑝
Or, = 𝐹1 + 𝐹2 + 𝐹3 +…………..………….……..………………..+ 𝐹𝑛
𝑑𝑡
𝒅𝒑
Therefore, = 𝑭𝒆𝒙𝒕 … … …………………….……..…+ 𝑭𝒏
𝒅𝒕
Conservation of linear momentum
𝑑𝑝
= 𝐹𝑒𝑥𝑡 = 0
𝑑𝑡

𝑝 = 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 = 𝑝0 Or,σ𝑖 𝑝𝑖 = 𝑝0

Therefore when the external force on the system is zero then the
momentum of the system is constant. This is the conservation law
of the linear momentum.
Application of the linear momentum in
the case of rocket propulsion
Y System of constant mass Y System of variable mass

t+∆t
t M M-∆M
v ∆M v+ ∆v
u
cm cm cm

X X
O O
𝑑𝑣 𝑑𝑣
𝑀 = 𝐹𝑒𝑥𝑡. 𝑀 = 𝐹𝑒𝑥𝑡. + 𝐹𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
 𝑑𝑃
𝑊𝑒 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝐹𝑒𝑥𝑡 =
𝑑𝑡
∆𝑃 𝑃𝑓 − 𝑃𝑖
𝐹𝑒𝑥𝑡 = = … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … . (14)
∆𝑡 ∆𝑡

𝑃𝑓 = 𝑀 − ∆𝑀 𝑉 + ∆𝑉 + ∆𝑀𝑢 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑃𝑖 = 𝑀𝑉

𝑀 − ∆𝑀 𝑉 + ∆𝑉 + ∆𝑀𝑢 − 𝑀𝑉
𝐹𝑒𝑥𝑡 =
∆𝑡
∆𝑉 ∆𝑀
𝐹𝑒𝑥𝑡 = 𝑀 + 𝑢 − 𝑉 + ∆𝑉 … … … … … … … … … … … . . (15)
∆𝑡 ∆𝑡
 0
∆𝑉 𝑑𝑀
𝐹𝑒𝑥𝑡 =𝑀 + 𝑢 − 𝑉 + ∆𝑉 . − ; 𝐴𝑠 ∆𝑉 𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑠 𝑡𝑜 0 𝑎𝑡 ∆𝑡 → 0
∆𝑡 𝑑𝑡
∆𝑀 𝑑𝑀
𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑜, 𝑖𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 −
∆𝑡 𝑑𝑡

𝑑𝑉 𝑑𝑀 𝑑𝑀
Or, 𝐹𝑒𝑥𝑡 = 𝑀 +𝑉 −𝑢
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡

𝑑(𝑀𝑉) 𝑑𝑀
Or, 𝐹𝑒𝑥𝑡 = −𝑢 … … … … … … … … … … … . . … … … … … … … … 16
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡

This equation (Eq-16) is the Newton’s second law, defining the

external forces on a body (like a single body) whose mass is changing
 Again,

𝑑𝑉 𝑑𝑀
𝑀 = 𝐹𝑒𝑥𝑡 + (𝑢 − 𝑉)
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑉 𝑑𝑀
Or, 𝑀 = 𝐹𝑒𝑥𝑡 + 𝑉𝑟𝑒𝑙 ; 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑉𝑟𝑒𝑙 𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡

𝑑𝑉
Or 𝑀 = 𝐹𝑒𝑥𝑡 + 𝐹𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … (17)
𝑑𝑡

The term Vrel dM/dt is called thrust or reaction force, and during
designing it is increased to make the plane faster.
Collision
A collision is an incidence when two or more bodies exert forces on
each other in a very short time.

Fig. Situation before and after collision

Elastic collision = Momentum & K.E. remains conserve before and
after collisions
𝑚𝐴 𝑢𝐴 + 𝑚𝐵 𝑢𝐵 = 𝑚𝐴 𝑣𝐴 + 𝑚𝐵 𝑣𝐵
𝑚𝐵 𝑢𝐵 𝑚𝐴 𝑢𝐴
Conditions 𝑣𝐴 = 𝑣𝐵 =
𝑚𝐴 𝑚𝐵
(exchange of V) :

Fig. Situation before and after collision

Inelastic collision = Momentum remains conserved but kinetic
energy does not remain conserve before and after collisions (if two
bodies merges into one body). What about the total energy?

𝑚𝐴 𝑢𝐴 + 𝑚𝐵 𝑢𝐵 = (𝑚𝐴 +𝑚𝐵 )𝑣
Collision is also called a reaction (in Nuclear/Quantum Physics):

P + Ag107 = α (He4) + Pd104

Why energy/momentum transfers during collision?

Is there any need to touch the bodies during collisions?
 𝑡1
ത
𝐽 = 𝐹∆𝑡; 𝐽 = න 𝐹 𝑑𝑡
Impulse 𝑡0

[The action of force (for a short time) during collision is called impulse;
change in momentum; ]

Impulse−Momentum: Collision time calculation

𝑡1
𝐹ത ∆𝑡 = 𝑚𝑉𝑓 − 𝑚𝑉𝑖 ; න 𝐹 𝑑𝑡 = 𝑚𝑉𝑓 − 𝑚𝑉𝑖
𝑡0
Conservation of momentum during collision:

F1 F2

m1 m2 𝐼𝑓 𝑛𝑜 𝑒𝑥𝑡. 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒, 𝐹1 = −𝐹2

𝑂𝑟, 𝐹ത1 = − 𝐹ത2

𝑡1
Or, ∆𝑃1 = − ∆𝑃2
∆𝑃1 = න 𝐹1 𝑑𝑡
𝑡0 Or, ∆𝑃1 + ∆𝑃2 = 0
𝑡1
∆𝑃2 = න 𝐹2 𝑑𝑡 For two particles, P = 𝑃1 + 𝑃2
𝑡0 Or, ∆P = ∆𝑃1 + ∆𝑃2 =0
-If there is no external force, total momentum of the system does not
change by collision. The impulsive forces acting during the collision
are internal forces which have no effect on the total momentum of the
system.

- When the effect of external forces on the system is negligible, we can

apply the momentum conservation principle during collision.
 Calculation of velocities in one dimensional collision

m1 m2 m1 m2

v1i v2i v1f v2f

V1i - v2i V1f - v2f

𝑀𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑢𝑚: 𝑚1 𝑣1𝑖 + 𝑚2 𝑣2𝑖 = 𝑚1 𝑣1𝑓 + 𝑚2 𝑣2𝑓

1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
𝐾. 𝐸: 𝑚1 𝑣1𝑖 + 𝑚2 𝑣2𝑖 = 𝑚1 𝑣1𝑓 + 𝑚2 𝑣2𝑓
2 2 2 2
𝑀𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑢𝑚: 𝑚1 𝑣1𝑖 + 𝑚2 𝑣2𝑖 = 𝑚1 𝑣1𝑓 + 𝑚2 𝑣2𝑓
𝑚1 (𝑣1𝑖 −𝑣1𝑓 ) = 𝑚2 (𝑣2𝑓 − 𝑣2𝑖 ) … … … … … (18)

1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
𝐾. 𝐸: 𝑚1 𝑣1𝑖 + 𝑚2 𝑣2𝑖 = 𝑚1 𝑣1𝑓 + 𝑚2 𝑣2𝑓
2 2 2 2
2 2 2 2
𝑚1 (𝑣1𝑖 − 𝑣1𝑓 ) = 𝑚2 (𝑣2𝑓 − 𝑣2𝑖 )
2 2 2 2
𝑚1 𝑣1𝑖 − 𝑣1𝑓 = 𝑚2 𝑣2𝑓 − 𝑣2𝑖 … … … … … … … (19)

𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝐸𝑞 18 & 19, 𝑣1𝑖 + 𝑣1𝑓 = 𝑣2𝑓 + 𝑣2𝑖

Rearranging, 𝑣1𝑖 − 𝑣2𝑖 = 𝑣2𝑓 − 𝑣1𝑓 … … … … … (20)

𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝐸𝑞𝑠, 𝑣2𝑓 = 𝑣1𝑖 + 𝑣1𝑓 − 𝑣2𝑖 and using this in eq-18

𝑚1 − 𝑚2 2𝑚2
𝑊𝑒 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒, 𝑣1𝑓 = 𝑣1𝑖 + 𝑣2𝑖
𝑚1 + 𝑚2 𝑚1 + 𝑚2

Similarly, using 𝑣1𝑓 = 𝑣2𝑓 + 𝑣2𝑖 − 𝑣1𝑖 ; 𝑣2𝑓 yelds

2𝑚1 𝑚2 − 𝑚1
𝑊𝑒 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒, 𝑣2𝑓 = 𝑣1𝑖 + 𝑣2𝑖
𝑚1 + 𝑚2 𝑚1 + 𝑚2

Case 1: if 𝑚1 = 𝑚2 , 𝑣1𝑓 = 𝑣2𝑖 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑣2𝑓 = 𝑣1𝑖

Case 2: if 𝑚2 𝑎𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡, 𝑖. 𝑒. , 𝑣2𝑖 = 0
𝑚1 − 𝑚2 2𝑚1
𝑊𝑒 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑣1𝑓 = 𝑣1𝑖 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑣2𝑓 = 𝑣1𝑖
𝑚1 + 𝑚2 𝑚1 + 𝑚2
Case 2: if 𝑚2 𝑎𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡 (𝑖. 𝑒. , 𝑣2𝑖 = 0) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑚1 = 𝑚2
𝑊𝑒 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑣1𝑓 = 0 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑑 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑣2𝑓 = 𝑣1𝑖 (𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓𝑓)
Case 2: if 𝑚2 𝑎𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑖. 𝑒. , 𝑣2𝑖 = 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑚2 >> 𝑚1
𝑊𝑒 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑣1𝑓 ≅ −𝑣1𝑖 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑣2𝑓 ≅ 0
Case 2: if 𝑚2 𝑎𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑖. 𝑒. , 𝑣2𝑖 = 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑚2 << 𝑚1
𝑊𝑒 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑣1𝑓 ≅ 𝑣1𝑖 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑣2𝑓 ≅ 2𝑣1𝑖