KINE 3301

Biomechanics of Human Movement

Linear Impulse − Momentum

Chapter 8
 Definitions
• Momentum: mass x velocity (units kg∙m/s)
• Conservation of Linear Momentum – The total linear
momentum of a system of objects is constant if the net force
acting on a system is zero.
• Elastic Collision: The objects collide and rebound.
• Inelastic Collision: The objects collide and stick together.
• Impulse (units N∙s)
– Constant force: Average force x time.
– Non-Constant force: Area under the force – time curve.
• Impulse – Momentum: The impulse is equal to the change in
momentum.
 Equations
Linear Momentum p=mv

𝑚 𝐴 𝑢 𝐴 +𝑚 𝐵 𝑢 𝐵=𝑚 𝐴 𝑣 𝐴 + 𝑚 𝐵 𝑣 𝐵
 

Elastic Collisions   𝑚 𝐵𝑢𝐵   𝑚𝐴 𝑢 𝐴

𝑣 𝐴= 𝑣 𝐵=
𝑚𝐴 𝑚𝐵

Inelastic Collisions 𝑚 𝐴 𝑢 𝐴 +𝑚𝐵 𝑢 𝐵=(𝑚 ¿ ¿ 𝐴 +𝑚𝐵 )𝑣 ¿

 

  𝑡1
Impulse 𝐽 =∫ 𝐹 𝑑𝑡
𝐽 = 𝐹´ ∆ 𝑡
 
𝑡0
Impulse−Momentum  𝑡 1
  ´ ( ∆𝑡 ) =𝑚𝑉 𝑓 −𝑚 𝑉 𝑖
𝐹 ∫ 𝐹 𝑑𝑡 =𝑚 𝑉 𝑓 − 𝑚 𝑉 𝑖
𝑡0
 Linear Momentum
• The linear momentum (p) of an object is the product
of it’s mass (m) and velocity (v). The units for linear
momentum are kg∙m/s.

m = 2 kg
p=mv v = 3 m/s
p = (2 kg) (3 m/s)
p = +6 kg∙m/s p

The vector for linear momentum points

in the same direction as the velocity.
 Conservation of Linear Momentum

• The total linear momentum of a system of objects is

constant if the net force acting on a system is zero.
• The total linear momentum is defined by:
𝑚 𝐴 𝑢 𝐴 +𝑚 𝐵 𝑢 𝐵=𝑚 𝐴 𝑣 𝐴 + 𝑚 𝐵 𝑣 𝐵
 

 
is the initial velocity (before collision)
is the final velocity (after collision)
is the mass of the object
 Collision Classifications
• Collisions are classified according to whether the
kinetic energy changes during the collision.
• The two classifications are elastic and inelastic.
• In an elastic collision the total kinetic energy of the
system is the same before and after the collision.
• In an a perfectly inelastic collision the total kinetic
energy is still conserved but the two objects stick
together and move with the same velocity.
Conservation of Linear Momentum
𝑚 𝐴 𝑢 𝐴 +𝑚 𝐵 𝑢 𝐵=𝑚 𝐴 𝑣 𝐴 + 𝑚 𝐵 𝑣 𝐵
 

The equation above is usually rearranged for

elastic and inelastic collisions as follows:

Elastic   𝑚 𝐵𝑢𝐵   𝑚𝐴 𝑢 𝐴
𝑣 𝐴= 𝑣 𝐵=
Collisions 𝑚𝐴 𝑚𝐵

Inelastic
Collisions 𝑚 𝐴 𝑢 𝐴 +𝑚𝐵 𝑢 𝐵=(𝑚 ¿ ¿ 𝐴 +𝑚𝐵 )𝑣 ¿
 
Two billiard balls collide in a
perfectly elastic collision. Ball A
has a mass of 0.8 kg and an
initial velocity (uA) of 3 m/s, ball
B has a mass of 0.3 kg and an
initial velocity (uB) of −2 m/s,
determine the velocity of each
ball after the collision.

  𝑚 𝐵𝑢𝐵   𝑚𝐴 𝑢 𝐴
𝑣 𝐴= 𝑣 𝐵=
𝑚𝐴 𝑚𝐵

  (.3 𝑘𝑔)(−2 𝑚/𝑠)   (.8 𝑘𝑔)(3 𝑚/ 𝑠)

𝑣 𝐴= 𝑣 𝐵=
.8 𝑘𝑔 .3 𝑘𝑔
  𝑣 𝐵=8.0𝑚 / 𝑠
 
Two clay objects collide in
an inelastic collision, object
A has a mass of 0.8 kg and
an initial velocity (uA) of 4
m/s, object B has a mass of
0.4 kg and an initial velocity
(uB) of −2 m/s, determine
the final velocity of A and B.

𝑚 𝐴 𝑢 𝐴 +𝑚𝐵 𝑢 𝐵=(𝑚 ¿ ¿ 𝐴 +𝑚𝐵 )𝑣 ¿

 

  𝑚 𝑚
(
( .8 𝑘𝑔 ) 4
𝑠 )
+ ( . 4 𝑘𝑔 ) − 2 (
𝑠 )
=(.8 𝑘𝑔+.4 𝑘𝑔) 𝑣

 
= m/s
 Computing Impulse

Constant Force

𝐽 = 𝐹´ ∆ 𝑡
 

Impulse = Average Force x time

Non−Constant Force
  𝑡1
𝐽 =∫ 𝐹 𝑑𝑡
𝑡0

Impulse = area under force-time curve

 Impulse
 Impulse (J) is defined as product of an average force () and
time (), or the area underneath the force time graph. The
units for impulse are N∙s.

𝐽 = 𝐹´ ∆ 𝑡
 

  𝑡1
𝐽 =∫ 𝐹 𝑑𝑡
𝑡0
 Computing Impulse using Average Force
 Compute the Impulse (J) for the force shown below with an
average force () 95.6 N and time () of 0.217 s.

 
 Impulse-Momentum
The impulse – momentum relationship is derived from
Newton’s law of acceleration.
  𝑉𝑓 −𝑉𝑖
𝑎=
 
𝐹=𝑚𝑎 Δ𝑡
  𝑉 𝑓 −𝑉 𝑖
𝐹=𝑚
Δ𝑡
 
𝐹 ( ∆𝑡 ) =𝑚𝑉 𝑓 −𝑚 𝑉 𝑖
Impulse = change in momentum
A soccer player imparts the force shown below on a soccer ball with a mass of
0.43 kg and an initial velocity (Vi) of 0.0 m/s. After the force was applied the ball
had a final velocity (Vf) of 23.02 m/s. The average force F of 90.8 N was applied
for 0.109 s. Compute the impulse using both average force and the change in
momentum.
A softball player imparts the force shown below on a softball with a mass
of 0.198 kg and an initial velocity (Vi) of 0.0 m/s. After the force was
applied the ball had a final velocity (Vf) of 50.51 m/s. The average force F
of 31.74 N was applied for 0.315 s. Compute the impulse using both
average force and the change in momentum.
 60 60

Force (N)

50 Velocity (m/s) 50

40 40

Velocity (m/s)
Force (N)

30 30

20 20

10 10

0 0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
Time (s)