AP Physics Unit 5

Momentum
Chapter 6: Momentum and Collisions
6.1 Linear Momentum
6.2 Impulse
6.3 The Conservation of Linear Momentum
6.4 Elastic and Inelastic Collisions
6.5 Center of Mass
Homework for Unit 5: Momentum
• Read Chapter 6

• HW 6.A

• HW 6.B
6.1 Linear Momentum
6.2 Impulse
 Loosen Up! II Physics Daily WarmUps # 91

Impulse is found by multiplying the force acting on an object by the amount of time the force acts. The amount of impulse that
an object experiences is equal to the amount that its momentum changes. This means that the same change in momentum
can be accomplished by exerting a large force for a short amount of time or a small force for a longer amount of time.

Seat belts are designed to give a little when they are properly fastened. If not, they would not work as well at keeping you
from injury in an accident or sudden stop. Use the concept of impulse equaling the change in momentum to explain why they
need to give.

Solution: The time to bring a person to stop is

increased, thereby decreasing the force exerted
on the person by the belt.
6.1 Linear Momentum

• The SI unit of momentum is the kg∙m/s.

• The total linear momentum of a system is the vector sum of the momenta of
the individual particles.

p = p1 + p 2 + p 3 + … = ∑ p i
i
6.1 Linear Momentum
Example 6.1: Which has more linear momentum:
a) a 1500 kg car moving at 25.0 m/s or
b) a 40,000 kg truck moving at 1.00 m/s?
6.1 Linear Momentum
Example 6.2: Two identical 1500 kg cars are moving perpendicular to each
other. One moves with a speed of 25.0 m/s due north and the other moves at
15.0 m/s due east. What is the total linear momentum of the system?
6.1 Linear Momentum: Check for Understanding
6.1 Linear Momentum: Check for Understanding
6.1 Linear Momentum: Check for Understanding
6.1 Linear Momentum: Check for Understanding
6.2 Impulse

F t
6.2 Impulse

● In fact, Newton used the momentum form of his second law when he first started
formatting the law.

● For a system in which mass is not a constant, such as rocket propulsion, the
momentum form should be used.
6.2 Impulse
Example 6.3: A 0.10 kg ball is dropped onto a table top. The speeds of the ball
right before hitting the table top and right after hitting the table top are 5.0 m/s and
4.0 m/s respectively. If the collision between the ball and the tabletop lasts 0.15 s,
what is the average force exerted on the ball by the table top?
6.2 Impulse: Check for Understanding

1.
.2 Impulse: Check for Understanding
6.2 Impulse: Check for Understanding
2.
6.2 Impulse: Check for Understanding
Answer: b
2 Impulse: Check for Understanding
3.
6.2 Impulse: Check for Understanding

J
 Homework for
Sections 6.1 & 6.2
• HW 6.A
 6.3 The Conservation of Linear
Momentum

6.4 Elastic and Inelastic Collisions

 Collision Conservation Physics Daily WarmUps # 97

Momentum is always conserved in any collision, as is energy. However, energy usually transformed into several different types as a
result of the collision. In most collisions, a significant amount of the kinetic energy is converted into other forms, and the colliding
objects’ movements are greatly affected. These are called inelastic collisions. There are some collisions, like the colliding steel balls
suspended by strings in a Newton’s Cradle, in which kinetic energy is almost conserved. Since so little energy is lost in each collision,
they seem to just go on bouncing. These collisions represent elastic collisions.

Elastic collisions always seem to catch our attention. Because they are so rare, they seem unusual to us. Write down a personal
experience where you witnessed an elastic collision.
6.3 The Conservation of Linear Momentum
6.3 The Conservation of Linear Momentum
 Momentum is conserved in an isolated system. The motion in two
dimensions may be analyzed in terms of the components of momentum,
which is also conserved.

If m1 and m2 are equal, they will split apart at a

90 degree angle.
Conservation of Momentum
a)Before the rifle is fired, the total momentum of the rifle and the bullet is zero.
b)During firing, there are equal and opposite internal forces, and the
instantaneous total momentum of the rifle-bullet system remains zero.
c)When the bullet leaves the barrel, the total momentum of the system is still
zero.
6.3 The Conservation of Linear Momentum
Example 6.4: A 50 kg pitching machine (excluding the baseball) is placed on a
frozen pond. The machine fires a 0.40 kg baseball with a speed of 35 m/s in the
horizontal direction. What is the recoil velocity of the pitching machine? (Assume
negligible friction.)
6.3 The Conservation of Linear Momentum
Example 6.5: A 10 gram bullet moving at 300 m/s is fired into a 1.0 kg block. The
bullet emerges (does not stay embedded in the block) with half of its original
speed. What is the velocity of the block right after the collision?
6.3 The Conservation of Linear Momentum: Check for Understanding
6.3 The Conservation of Linear Momentum: Check for Understanding
6.3 The Conservation of Linear Momentum: Check for Understanding
6.3 The Conservation of Linear Momentum: Check for Understanding
6.4 Elastic and Inelastic Collisions
6.4 Elastic and Inelastic Collisions
6.4 Elastic and Inelastic Collisions
6.4 Elastic and Inelastic Collisions
Inelastic collisions 6.4 Elastic and Inelastic Collisions
• In inelastic collisions, momentum is conserved but kinetic energy is not.
• Collisions like the ones shown here, in which the objects stick together , are
called completely inelastic collisions.
• The maximum amount of kinetic energy lost is consistent with the conservation
of momentum.
6.4 Elastic and Inelastic Collisions
Example 6.6: While standing on skates on a frozen pond, a student of mass 70.0 kg
catches a 2.00 kg ball travelling horizontally at 15.0 m/s toward him.

a)What is the speed of the student and the ball immediately after he catches it?

b)How much kinetic energy is lost in the process?

6.4 Elastic and Inelastic Collisions

Example 6.7: A rubber ball with a speed of 5.0 m/s collides head on elastically with
an identical ball at rest. Find the velocity of each object after the collision.
6.4 Elastic and Inelastic Collisions: Check for Understanding
6.4 Elastic and Inelastic Collisions: Check for Understanding
6.4 Elastic and Inelastic Collisions: Check for Understanding
6.4 Elastic and Inelastic Collisions: Check for Understanding
6.4 Elastic and Inelastic Collisions: Check for Understanding
6.4 Elastic and Inelastic Collisions: Check for Understanding
6.4 Elastic and Inelastic Collisions: Check for Understanding
6.4 Elastic and Inelastic Collisions: Check for Understanding
6.4 Elastic and Inelastic Collisions: Check for Understanding
6.4 Elastic and Inelastic Collisions
 Homework for
Sections 6.3 & 6.4
• HW 6.B
6.5 Center of Mass
6.5 Center of Mass
• The center of mass of a system is the point at which all the mass of the
system may be considered to be concentrated.

• If the acceleration due to gravity, g, is a constant, then the center of

gravity, or the point at which al the weight of the system may be concentrated,
is at the center of mass.

• The conservation of momentum allows us to analyze a system of particles;

the system can be replaced by an equivalent single particle at the center of
mass.

• The motion of the center of mass also obeys Newton’s second law,
Fnet = ma.

• If the net external force on a system is zero, the total linear momentum of
the center of the mass stays constant (or zero).
6.5 Center of Mass
How can you find the center of mass (or center of gravity) of an object?

1) Symmetry (the center of the object)

2) Mathematically (beyond the scope of this course)
3) Experimentally (by suspension)