Momentum

1. Inertia is defined as the property of an object to resist change in motion. The more the mass of
an object, the more will be its inertia

2. Momentum is defined as the product of mass and velocity

3. Since

4. When an object lands on a soft surface the time it takes more time for the momentum to
become zero as compared to the time it would take to come to rest when it lands on a hard
surface. This is the reason why we experience a smaller force when we jump on a soft surface as
compared to a hard surface

5. Impulse is defined as the product of force and time

6. Hence impulse can also be defined as change in momentum

7. During any collision momentum is always conserved. Therefore total momentum before
collision is equal to the total momentum after collision
8. Since momentum is a vector quantity, therefore the direction must always be taken into
consideration

9. According to Newton’s third law, action and reaction are equal and opposite. In other words, if
object A exerts a force on object B, object B will also exert an equal force on object A but in the
opposite direction

10. The time for which object A exerts a force on object B will be the same for which object B exerts
a force on object A.

11. Therefore the change in momentum for object B and change in momentum of object A will be
the same, but the direction will be opposite

12. Graphically the third law can be represented as shown