TOPIC 5 :

THE MOMENTUM EQUATION

Dr. Mazlina Bt Alang Othman
Department of Civil Engineering
Politeknik Ungku Omar
Lesson Outcomes:
• Basic concept of momentum equation
• Forces exerted on flat and curved surfaces of stationary and
moving objects
• Forces exerted on pipe bends and nozzles
• Experiment on impact of water jet on flat and curved surface
 Conservation of momentum

• In fluid mechanics the analysis of motion is performed by

use of Newton’s laws of motion.
• The momentum equation is a statement of Newton’s
Second Law and relates the sum of the forces acting on an
element of fluid to its acceleration or rate of change of
momentum
∆𝑣
ΣF = ma a=
∆𝑡

• Force equals mass times acceleration. Acceleration is the

time rate of change of velocity.
 Momentum Equation

• The rate of change of momentum across the control

volume:
m(v2 – v1) = Mass flow rate x Change of velocity

• And according the Newton’s second law, this change of

momentum per unit time will be caused by a force F,
Thus:
ΣF = m (v2 – v1)
ΣF = ρQ (v2 – v1)

𝐹 = ρ𝑄 ∆𝑣 − 𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
• This is the resultant force acting on the fluid in the
direction of motion.
 ΣF = ρQ (v2 – v1)
• This analysis assumed that the inlet and outlet velocities were in the same
direction - i.e. a one dimensional system.
• What happens when this is not the case?
• Consider the two dimensional system in the figure below:

• In this case we consider the forces by resolving in the directions of the co-
ordinate axes
 Application of Momentum Equation
1. Impact of a jet on a plane/flat surface of
stationary and moving objects
I. Vertical Plate
II. Inclined plate
2. Impact of a jet on curved surface
3. Analyze forces exerted on pipe bends
Impact of a jet on a plane/flat surface of
stationary and moving objects : Vertical Plate
 Example 1
1. A hose and a nozzle discharge a horizontal jet of water against a vertical
plate as shown in figure. Given the diameter of the nozzle is 25 mm and
discharge is 0.025 m3/s. Calculate force exerted to the plat.
2. A flat plate normally hit by a jet of water 50 mm diameter with velocity of
18 m/s. Calculate the force
a) on the stationary plate
b) on the plate when it moves in the same direction as the jet with velocity of
6 m/s
Impact of a jet on a plane/flat surface of
stationary and moving objects : Inclined Plate
 Example 2
A jet of water from fixed nozzle has diameter of 25 mm and strikes a flat plate at angle of
300 to the normal to the plate. The velocity of jet is 5 m/s and the surface of the plate can
be assumed to be frictionless. Calculated the force exerted normal to the plate
a) If the plate is stationary
b) If the plate is moving with velocity of 2 m/s in the same direction of the jet
Impact of a jet on curved surface
Impact of a jet on curved surface
 Example 3
A jet of water is deflected by a curve vane as shown in figure below. The water jet has
diameter of 4 cm and velocity of 50 m/s. Find the force into a curve vane.
 Example 4
A jet of water exit from a 25 mm diameter nozzle and hits a stationary curved blade as
shown in Figure below. Calculate the x and y component of the concrete block used to
hold the curved blade
 Analyze forces exerted on pipe bends
• Step in applying control volume concept:
1. Force caused by inlet pressure, F1 = p1A1 (X direction and Y
direction)
2. Force caused by outlet pressure, F2 = p2A2 (X direction and Y
direction)
3. Force caused by momentum, F3= ρQ(v-u) (X direction and Y
direction)

Total force, F = F1 + F2 + F3
FR = √FX2 + Fy2
Ɵ = Tan-1 Fy/ FX
Example 5
Example 6