MOMENTUM

Momentum (p)
Defined as a product of mass and velocity.
Momentum is a quantity possessed by masses in motion.
It is a measure of how difficult it is to stop something that is moving.
It is calculated by multiplying the mass of an object by its velocity.

momentum (kg m/s) = mass (kg)  x velocity (m/s)

p= m v
Momentum is a vector quantity (a quantity that has both size and
direction)
The more mass an object has the more momentum it will have when
moving.
The momentum of an object also increases with velocity.
Note:
A 2 kg mass moving at 10 m/s has momentum 20 kg m/s, the same as of
a 5 kg mass moving at 4 m/s.
Question 1:
A body of mass 2 kg is moving with a velocity of 3m/s towards north. Calculate its
momentum.
Question 2:
A ball of mass 600g hits a wall with a velocity of 2m/s. Calculate its momentum.
Question 3:
A car of mass 800 kg has a momentum of 2400 Kg m/s. Calculate its velocity.
Note: If a body moves in an opposite direction
after collision, it’s velocity after collision should
be taken as negative.
 *FORCE and MOMENTUM

Change in momentum (Δp) = p2 – p1

= mv – mu

Rate of change of momentum =

=m ( )
=ma
=F
Example:

A ball of mass 800g hits a wall with a velocity of 3m/s and then rebounds (moving in
opp. Direction) with a velocity of 2.2m/s. The time of impact is 0.04s
Calculate:
a) The initial momentum (momentum before collision)
b) The final momentum (momentum after collision)
c) Change in momentum (Δp = p2 – p1)
d) Rate of change of momentum
 Solution:
m = 800 g = 0.8 Kg, u = 3 m/s, v = - 2.2 m/s , t = 0.04 s

a) p1 = m x u b) p2 = m x v
= 0.8 Kg x 3 m/s = 0.8 Kg x - 2.2 m/s
= 2.4 Kg m/s = - 1.76 Kg m/s

c) Change in momentum Δp = p2 – p1
= - 1.76 Kg m/s - 2.4 Kg m/s
= - 4.16 Kg m/s

d) Rate of change of momentum =

= =

= - 104 Kg m/s2
= - 104 N
Rate of change of momentum = FORCE (opposite to initial direction of motion)
 Impulse
Impulse: product of force and time for which it acts.

Fr x t = mv – mu
(Impulse) (change of momentum)

Ft = mv – mu

With impulse we can calculate,

 Change in momentum.
 The average impact force of a collision.
 Conservation of Momentum
When two or more bodies collide with each other, the total
momentum of the bodies remains constant, provided no external
forces act (eg. Friction).
This statement is called the ‘principle of conservation of
momentum’.
Formula:
Total momentum before collision = Total momentum after collision
m1u1 + m2u2 = m1v1+ m2v2
 Example 1:
Sphere A of mass 10 kg, moving with a velocity 5 m/s hits sphere B of
mass 5 kg which is stationary. Both spheres move , at a certain velocity.
Sphere B now moves with a velocity of 3 m/s. Calculate the velocity of
sphere A after collision.
Kinetic Energy
Kinetic energy is the energy of motion.

Formula:

Kinetic Energy =

Unit - Joules (J)

Types of Collision
 Explosions
An object being fired from a cannon is also a collision where momentum must be conserved.
As the momentum before the 'collision' is zero, the momentum after the collision is zero.
In physics, this type of event is termed an 'explosion'.

• Consider a cannon ball of mass mB  4 kg fired at velocity 

vB  120 m/s from a cannon of mass mC 96 kg. This allows
determination of the recoil speed of the cannon.
Calculate velocity of cannon vC.

• The total momentum before is zero so by the law of conservation of momentum the momentum
after the ball is fired is also zero.

 The negative sign means the cannon moves

backwards to conserve the momentum in the
explosion, this effect is known as 'recoil'.
Practice Question:
A squash ball of mass 25 g is moving from left to right at 3.2 m/s. It is hit by a squash
racquet which applies a force for 4 milliseconds, so that the ball leaves the racquet at 8.4
m/s moving from right to left. Impulse-momentum can be used to calculate the average
force on the ball.