Q4 M3 STUDY NOTES: Impulse and Momentum

In Newton’s Law of Inertia, Inertia is the tendency of an object to resist any change in its state of rest or state
of motion. The “inertia in motion or inertia of moving objects” is known as momentum (p). Momentum
also tells us how difficult it is to stop a moving object.
It is difficult to stop a moving object because it has mass and velocity.
Thus, momentum p is also defined as the product of mass m and velocity v. That
is, p=mv
kg m
The unit of momentum is kilogram meter per second ( ).
s
Therefore, mass and velocity affects momentum. From the equation we can say that,
 Momentum is directly proportional to the object's mass.
 Momentum is directly proportional to the object's velocity.
This means that the momentum is greater if either the object’s mass or velocity is great.
The heavier one is more difficult to stop. For objects moving at the same velocity, a more massive object has a
greater inertia in motion therefore a greater momentum. Momentum depends on two factors, mass and
velocity. Two cars of the same mass but different velocities will also have
different momenta.
Example problems:
1. A 30kg child is riding on a 40kg sled, which was moving down a hill at the
speed of 20m/s.
What is the total momentum of the child and the sled?
Given: m = 30kg mass of the child
m = 40kg mass of the sled
v = 20m/s
Unknown: total momentum (p)
Formula: p = mv
Solution:
p = mv
Add the mass (m) of the child and the sled.
m = 30kg + 40kg = 70kg
Then,
p = (70kg)(20m/s)
Answer: p = 1,400 kg m/s
2. A truck full of sand has a momentum of 1 000 000kg m/s with a mass of 50,000 kg. Compute for the velocity
of the truck.
Given: m = 50 000 kg
p = 1000 000 kg m/s
Unknown: velocity (m/s)
p
Formula: v=
m
1 000 000 kg m/ s
Solution: v=
50 000 kg
Answer: v = 20 m/s
3. Calculate the mass of a moving car with a velocity of 12 m/s with a momentum of 15 000 kg m/s.
Given: v = 12 m/s
p = 15 000 kg m/s
Unknown: mass (kg)
p
Formula: m=
v
Solution:
15 000 kg m/s
m=
12m/ s
Answer: m = 1250 kg

IMPULSE
  If momentum changes, it’s because mass or velocity change.
 Most often mass doesn’t change so velocity changes and that is acceleration.
 And mass x acceleration = force
 This means, applying a force over a time interval to an object changes the momentum
 Ft = mΔv

Objects at rest do not have momentum - they do not have any “mass in motion or inertia in motion." Both
variables - mass and velocity - are important in comparing the momentum of two objects. For the same change
in momentum

 The impact force is smaller when the impact time is bigger, or

 The impact force is bigger when the impact time is smaller
CONSERVATION OF MOMENTUM

To accelerate an object, a force must be applied.

 The force or impulse on the object must come from outside the object.
 EXAMPLES : The air in a basketball,
 Sitting in a car and pushing on the dashboard
 Sitting in a boat and blowing on the sail
 *** These activities don’t create movement.
 Internal forces like these are balanced and cancel each other.
 If no outside force is present, no change in momentum is possible.
 Unless there is external force acting on a system, the momentum of the system remains unchanged.
 This means that, when all of the forces are internal the net momentum of the system before and after
the event is the same.
 If objects collide,
Total momentum before = total momentum after for both objects

COLLISION
A collision is an encounter between two objects resulting in exchange of impulse and momentum.

2 TYPES OF COLLISION
1. ELASTIC COLLISION - is one in which the total KE does not change and colliding objects bounce off after
collision.

2. INELASTIC COLLISION - is one in which the total KE changes (converted to some other form of energy.
Objects that stick together after collision is said to be perfectly inelastic.

IMPULSE AND MOMENTUM

An object has a momentum if it has a velocity. Momentum is calculated by multiplying the mass and velocity
together. Impulse is directly related to momentum because impulse is a term describing an object's change in
momentum. In other words, if an object changes speed, then its momentum changes.
Examples of Momentum and Impulse:
1. In baseball, a ball that is only struck with a small part of the bat is not in contact with the bat for a long period
of time so the change in momentum, or impulse is small and the ball does not travel very far. However, if the
bat strikes the ball squarely, the force is exerted for a longer time resulting in a greater change in momentum,
or greater impulse, and the ball travels very far.
2. Air bags in cars are designed with impulse, or momentum change principles. When a driver gets into an
accident their momentum carries them forward into the steering wheel. By putting an airbag in the car, a
smaller force is exerted over a longer period of time to change the momentum of the driver to a stop. Without
the airbag, a large force is exerted over a short time causing more damage to the driver.
Situation A Situation B Answer Reason
1. A 50kg man who’s A 50 kg lady who’s A 50 kg man who’s The man has a greater velocity,
running walking running therefore greater velocity ha a
greater momentum.
2. A car at rest A car in motion A car in motion Moving object has momentum
while object at rest has no
momentum.
3.A bowling bowl, A basketball rolling A bowling ball rolling Bowling ball has a greater mass
rolling with a velocity with velocity of 2m/s with a velocity of than a basketball, then with greater
of 2m/s. 2m/s mass has a greater momentum.
4.Car Y has a mass Car Z has a mass of Car Y has a mass of Car Y has a greater velocity, then
of 1500 kg and 1500kg and travelling 1500 kg and greater momentum.
travelling at 70km/h at 30km/h travelling at 70km/h

KEY CONCEPTS:
 Momentum can be defined as “mass in motion”. All object has mass, so if an objects is moving then
it has momentum – it has it’s mass in motion.
 Momentum depends upon the variables – mass and velocity. In terms of an equation, the momentum
of an object is equal to the mass of object times the velocity of the object, or simply, p = mv
p p
for mass; m= for velocity; v=
v m
 The impulse of a force (also measured in N s) is equal to the change in momentum of a body which a
force causes. This is also equal to the magnitude of the f
 Impulse = change in momentum = force x time
 Collision – also called impact, is a sudden forceful coming together in direct contact of two bodies such
as, two billiard balls, a golf club and a ball, a hammer and a nail head or a falling object and the floor.
o 2 Types of Collision – Elastic and Inelastic Collision.
 To minimize the effects of the force on an object involved in a collision, the time must be increased.
And to maximize the effect of the force on an object involved in collision, the time must be
decreased.
 Ways to changing momentum:
To increase the momentum, apply the greatest force possible for as long as possible.
When momentum is decreased over a long time, the impact force is smaller and the impact time is longer.

I. Evaluating learning
A. Fill in the blank. Choose and use the word inside the box to complete the statements below.
p = mv Inertia Inelastic resist
mass Collision velocity Impulse
Elastic rest Momentum directly
1. Objects at _________ do not have momentum.
2. Momentum is __________ proportional to the object's mass.
3-4. Momentum depends upon the variables – __________ and _________.
5. The formula for momentum is _________.
6. _________ is known as the sudden forceful coming together in direct contact of two bodies.
7. __________ can be defined as “mass in motion”.
8.-9.__________ is the tendency of an object to __________ any change in its state of rest or state of motion.
10. __________is forces multiplied by time.
11. __________ collision in which the total KE does not change and colliding objects bounce off after collision.
12. __________ collision in which the total KE changes (converted to some other form of energy.

B. Problem solving. Show your given and solution.

Find the momentum for each running animal.
1. A cheetah with a mass of about 74kg at a running speed of up to 31m/s.
2. An elephant with a mass of 7000kg running at 18m/s?
3. Which animal has a greater momentum?
4. Which animal has a lesser momentum?