IMPULSE & MOMENTUM

Impulse (J) :
Refers to the product of the force and the time
interval it acts on the body.

J = F(t2 – t1) = F(Δt)

where :
F – applied constant force ( in
Newtons)
Δt – time interval (in seconds)
J – Impulse ( in Ns)
v1 v2
F
m m

t1 t2
 Momentum (p) :
Defined as the product of the mass and the
velocity of an object.

p = mv
where :
m – mass (kg)
v – velocity (m/s)
p – momentum (kg-
m/s)
v1 v2
F
m m

t1 t2
Both Momentum & Impulse are vector quantities, thus they have
both horizontal & vertical components. And follow standard sign
conventions
X - component
px = mvx Jx = Fx(t2 – t1) =
Fx(Δt)
Y - component
py = mvy Jy = Fy(t2 – t1) =
Fy(Δt)

p= px2 + py2 J= Jx2 + Jy2

Relationship between Momentum & Impulse

v1 v2
F
m m

t1 t2

J = Δp
FΔt = mv2 – mv1

“The change in momentum at any time interval equals the impulse of

the force applied during that time interval.”

FxΔt = mv2x – mv1x

FyΔt = mv2y – mv1y

 SAMPLE PROBLEMS
1. A baseball has a mass of 0.2kg.
(a) If the velocity of a pitched ball has a magnitude of 35m/s, and after the ball is batted the
velocity is 55m/s in the opposite direction, find the change in momentum of the ball and the
impulse applied to it by the bat.
(b) If the ball remains in contact with the bat for 2 ms (2x10 -3 s), find the average force applied
by the bat.
Given :
Required :
m = 0.2 kg a. Δp & J b. F by the bat
v1 = 35 m/s v2 = 55 m/s
F

a) Δp = mv2 – mv1 b) F = ? With Δt = 2x10-3s

J = FΔt
Δp = (0.2kg)(+55m/s) – (0.2kg)(-35m/s)
18 Ns = F(2x10-3s)
Δp = 18 kg-m/s
18 Ns/ (2x10-3s) = F
J = Δp = 18 Ns
9,000 N = F
F = 9,000 N or 9 kN
 SAMPLE PROBLEMS

2. Prob.8-12 ] A bat strikes a 0.145 kg baseball. Just before impact, the ball is traveling horizontally to
the right at 50 m/s, and it leaves the bat traveling to the left at an angle of 30° above the
horizontal with a speed of 65m/s. If the ball and bat are in contact for 1.75 msec, find the
horizontal & vertical components of the average force on the ball.

v1 = 50 m/s
x-component : vectors to the right (+)
FxΔt = m(v2x – v1x)
Fx = m(v2x – v1x) / Δt
Fx = (0.145kg)[(-65m/s)(cos30°) – (+50m/s)] / (0.00175 s)
Fx = - 8,807 N
v2 = y-component : vectors going up (+)
65
m /s
Fy FyΔt = m(v2y – v1y)
Fy = m(v2y – v1y) / Δt
30°
Fy = (0.145kg)[(+65m/s)(sin30°) – 0] / (0.00175 s)
Fx
F Fy = +2,692.9 N
 SAMPLE PROBLEMS
3. Prob.8-1 ]
(a) What is the magnitude of the momentum of a 10,000 kg truck whose speed is 12 m/s?
(b) What speed would a 2,000 kg SUV have to attain in order to have
i. The same momentum (as the truck)
ii. The same kinetic energy (as the truck)
 CONSERVATION OF MOMENTUM
> When two bodies interact only with each other, their total momentum is
constant.
> In an isolated system (one where external forces are absent) the total
momentum will be constant.

Total pbefore = Total pafter

m1v1 + m2v2 = m1u1 +
m2u2
where :
v – initial velocities
u – final velocities
m1 – mass of object 1
m2 – mass of object 2
 SAMPLE PROBLEMS
1. An open-topped freight car with a mass of 10,000 kg is coasting without friction along a level track. It
is raining very hard, and the rain is falling vertically downward. The car is originally empty and
moving with a speed of 3 m/s. What is the speed of the car after it has traveled long enough to
collect 1,000 kg of rainwater?

Given : Required :ucar

m2 = 1,000 kg m1v1 + m2v2 = m1u1+m2u2
m1 = 10,000 kg
u1= ?
v1 = 3 m/s
Let: m1 = mass of freight car = 10,000 kg
m2 = mass of rain water = 1,000 kg
1 2
m1v1 + m2v2 = m1u1+m2u2
(10,000 kg)(3m/s )+(0)(0 m/s) = (10,000 kg)u1+(1,000 kg)u2
30,000 kg-m/s = (10,000 kg)u1+(1,000 kg)u2
By logic u1 = u2, since rain water moving along with the car
30,000 kg-m/s = (10,000 kg)u1+(1,000 kg)u1 (30,000 kg-m/s)/11,000kg = u
1
30,000 kg-m/s = u1 (10,000kg+1,000 kg)
30,000 kg-m/s = u1 (11,000kg) 2.727 m/s = u1
 SAMPLE PROBLEMS

2. Given : 1
Required :uA
uA = ? 2 uB = 0.90 m/s
mA = 1kg mB = 2 kg

A B A B

mAvA + mBvB = mAuA+mBuB

(1kg)(0 m/s)+(2kg)(0 m/s) = (1kg)uA+(2kg)(0.9 m/s)
0 = (1kg)uA+1.8kg-m/s
- 1.8 kg-m/s = (1kg)uA
(- 1.8 kg-m/s)/1kg = uA
- 1.8 m/s = uA
uA = 1.8 m/s to the left
ELASTIC & INELASTIC COLLISIONS
 ELASTIC & INELASTIC COLLISIONS

COLLISIONS

- Defined as a kind of interaction between two bodies

wherein there is a strong interaction that last for a
relatively short time.

- Usually treated as an isolated system because the

interactive forces are greater than the external forces (i.e.
friction).
 ELASTIC & INELASTIC COLLISIONS
TYPES OF COLLISIONS

1. Perfectly Elastic Collision

Before and During Collision
vA
vB
A B

After Collision
uA uB
A B
 ELASTIC & INELASTIC COLLISIONS
TYPES OF COLLISIONS

1. Perfectly Elastic Collision

After collision, the colliding bodies move in separate direction
with respective velocities.
Elastic collisions conserve kinetic energy as well as total
momentum before and after collision.

mAvA + mBvB = mAuA + mBuB

Velocity relationship in a straight line elastic collision:

uB – uA = vA – vB
 ELASTIC & INELASTIC COLLISIONS
TYPES OF COLLISIONS

2. Perfectly Inelastic Collision

Before and During Collision
vA
vB
A B

After Collision
u

A B
 ELASTIC & INELASTIC COLLISIONS
TYPES OF COLLISIONS

2. Perfectly Inelastic Collision

After collision, the colliding bodies merge and move in one
direction at with a common velocity.
Inelastic collisions don't conserve kinetic energy, but total
momentum before and after collision is conserved. Kinetic
energy after collision is less than that before collision.

mAvA + mBvB = u (mA + mB)

 Examples
1 A 10 g marble rolls to the left with a velocity of magnitude 0.4 m/s on a smooth,
level surface and makes a head on collision with a larger 30 g marble rolling to the
right with a velocity of magnitude of 0.1 m/s. If the collision is perfectly elastic, find
the velocity of each marble after the collision. (Since the collision is head on, all the
motion is along a line).

Given : Required :
Before :
uA & uB
vB = 0.1 m/s

vA = 0.4 m/s

30g
10g

After :
uB = ?

uA = ?

30g
10g
 Examples
2. A toy car with mass of 0.3 kg moves to the right at 5 m/s along a frictionless
horizontal table and collides with a toy truck having a mass of 0.8 kg which is moving
1.5 m/s to the left. If the two toys stick together, what is the final velocity (magnitude
& direction)?

Given : Required :
u
mtrk = 0.8 kg
Before : vtrk = 1.5 m/s
mcar = 0.3 kg
vcar = 5 m/s

After : u=?
 Examples
3. A 2000 kg automobile going eastward on Ortigas Ave at 50 km/hr collides with a
4000 kg truck which is going northward across Ortigas Ave at 20 km/hr. If they
become coupled on collision, what is the magnitude and direction of their velocity
immediately after collision? (Friction forces between the cars & the road can be
neglected during the collision).
Given : Required :
u
Before : After :
u= ?
vcar = 50 km/hr

vtrk = 20 km/hr
 ELASTIC & INELASTIC COLLISIONS

Coefficient of Restitution (ε)

A fractional value representing the ratio of velocities before and after
an impact. This determines the bounce quality of an object, practical
examples are balls used in golf & tennis.

from Elastic Collision :

uB – uA = vA – vB

ε = (uB – uA) / (vA – vB)

ε = 1 (for Perfectly Elastic Collision)

ε = 0 (for Perfectly Inelastic Collision)
 ELASTIC & INELASTIC COLLISIONS

Coefficient of Restitution (ε)

If one side is stationary, say the floor or wall.
ε = (−u) / (v)
Using bounce heights

ε= h2 /h1

ε= h3 /h2
h1

h2
h3 ε= h4 /h3
v u h4