Momentum, Impulse, and

Collisions
Momentum and Impulse
Momentum and Impulse
In our discussion of work and energy we re-expressed Newton's
Second Law in an integral form called Work-Energy Theorem
(W
total
= AK) which states that the total work done on a particle
equals the change in the kinetic energy of the particle.
We will once again re-express N2L in an integral form. However,
in this case the independent variable will be time rather than
position as was the case for the Work-Energy Theorem.

) ( v m
dt
d
dt
v d
m F

= =

dt
v d
a

=
v m p

=
The linear momentum of a particle of mass m moving with
velocity v is a vector quantity defined as the product of particle's
mass and velocity:
Definition of momentum
Momentum and Impulse
dt
p d
F

N2L in new form: the net force acting on a particle equals the time
rate of change of momentum of the particle:
N2L in terms of momentum
Momentum is a vector quantity: it has magnitude (mv) and direction
(the same as velocity vector)
Momentum of a car driving North at 20 m/s is different from momentum
of the same car driving East at the same speed
Ball thrown by a major-league pitcher has greater magnitude of
momentum then the same ball thrown by a child because the speed is
greater
18-wheeler going 65 mph has greater magnitude of momentum than Geo
car with the same speed because the trucks mass is greater
Units of momentum (SI): mass speed, kgm/s
Momentum in terms of components
z z y y x x
mv p mv p mv p p = = = :

Momentum and Impulse

dt
p d
F

N2L in terms of momentum shows that

Rapid change in momentum requires a large net force
Gradual change in momentum requires less net force
This principle is used in the design of safety air bags in cars
The driver of fast-moving car has a large momentum (the
product of the drivers mass and velocity).
If car stops suddenly in a collision, drivers momentum becomes
zero due to collision with car parts (steering wheel and
windshield)
Air bag causes the driver to lose momentum more gradually than
would abrupt collision with the steering wheel, reducing the force
exerted on the driver (and the possibility for injury)
Same principle applies to the padding used to package fragile
objects for shipping
Momentum and Impulse

A = = t F t t F J

) (
1 2
Consider a particle acted on by a constant net force EF during a
time interval At from t
1
to t
2
. The impulse of the net force J is
defined to be the product of the net force and the time interval:
Impulse is a vector quantity.
Its direction is the same as the net force
Its magnitude is the product of the magnitude of the net
force and the length of time the the net force acts
Units of impulse (SI): force time, Ns
1 N = 1 kgm/s
2
Ns = kgm/s (same as momentum)

For constant net force
Impulse - Momentum Theorem
1 2
p p J

=
If the net force is constant, then dp/dt is also constant and equals to
the total change in momentum during the time interval t
2
-t
1
, divided
by this time interval:

Impulse Momentum Theorem
1 2
1 2
t t
p p
dt
p d
const F

= = =

1 2 1 2
) ( p p t t F

Impulse Momentum Theorem: The change in momentum of a

particle during a time interval equals the impulse of the net force that
acts on the particle during that interval.

Impulse - Momentum Theorem
General definition of impulse

= = =
2
1
2
1
2
1
1 2
t
t
t
t
t
t
p p p d dt
dt
p d
dt F

Impulse Momentum Theorem also holds when forces are NOT

constant. To see this, lets integrate both sides of N2L

=
2
1
t
t
dt F J

Impulse - Momentum Theorem
We can define an average net force EF
such that even when EF is NOT constant,
the impulse J is given by
x x x x x av
t
t
x x
mv mv p p t t F dt F J
1 2 1 2 1 2
) ( ) (
2
1
= = = =

y y y y y av
t
t
y y
mv mv p p t t F dt F J
1 2 1 2 1 2
) ( ) (
2
1
= = = =

) (
1 2
t t F J
av
=

The impulse can be interpreted as the "area"
under the graph of F(t) versus t. The x-
component of impulse of the net force EF
x

between t
1
and t
2
equals the area under EF
x
t
curve, which also equals the area under
rectangle with height (F
av
)
x
The force on soccer ball
that in contact with players
foot from time t
1
to t
2
Momentum and Kinetic Energy
Fundamental difference between momentum and kinetic energy

Impulse - Momentum Theorem:

Changes in a particles momentum are due to impulse, which
depends on the time over which the net force acts.

Work Energy Theorem:

Kinetic energy changes when work done on the particle. The
total work depends on the distance over which the net force
acts.
1 2
p p J

=
1 2
K K W
tot
=
Momentum and Kinetic Energy
Compared
Consider a particle that starts from rest at t
1
so that v=0.
Its initial momentum is p
1
=mv
1
=0
Its initial kinetic energy is K
1
=0.5mv
1
2
=0
Let a constant net force equal to F act on that particle from time t
1

until time t
2
. During this interval the particle moves a distance S in
the direction of the force. From impulse-momentum theorem:


1 2
p p J

=
J p J p

= + =
1 2
) (
1 2
t t F J =

o The momentum of a particle equals the impulse that accelerated it
from the rest to its present speed
o The impulse is the product of the net force that accelerated the
particle and the time required for the acceleration
o Kinetic energy of the particle at t
2
is K
2
=W
tot
=FS, the total work
done on the particle to accelerate it from rest
o The total work is the product of the net force and the distance
required to accelerate the particle
Momentum and Kinetic Energy.
Example
Kinetic energy of a pitched baseball =
the work the pitcher does on it
o (force distance the ball moves during
the throw)
Momentum of the ball = the impulse
the pitcher imparts to it
o (force time it took to bring the ball up
to speed)

= S F

ball by
gained energy Kinetic

A = t F

ball by
gained Momentum
t A time in nt Displaceme

force Net
Conservation of Momentum
Conservation of Momentum
Concept of momentum is particularly important in situations when
you have two or more interacting bodies
Consider idealized system of two particles: two astronauts floating
in the zero-gravity environment
Astronauts touch each other (each particle exerts force on another)
N3L: these forces are equal and opposite
Hence, impulses that act on two particles are equal and opposite
Internal and External Forces
dt
p d
F
A
BonA

=
Internal forces: the forces that the particles of the system exert on
each other (for any system)
Forces exerted on any part of the system by some object outside it called
external forces
For the system of two astronauts, the internal forces are F
BonA
, exerted
by particle B on particle A, and F
AonB
, exerted by particle A on particle B
There are NO external forces: we have isolated system


dt
p d
F
B
AonB

=
BonA AonB
F F

=
0
) (
=
+
= + = +
dt
p p d
dt
p d
dt
p d
F F
B A B A
BonA AonB


Total momentum of two particles is the vector
sum of the momenta of individual particles
B A
p p P

+ =
... ... + + = + + =
B B A A B A
v m v m p p P

If system consist of any

number of particles A, B,
Conservation of Total Momentum
The time rate of change of the total
momentum is zero. Hence the total
momentum of the system is
constant, even though the individual
momenta of the particles that make
up the system can change.

0 = = +
dt
P d
F F
BonA AonB

If there are external forces acting on the
system, they must be included into
equation above along with internal
forces.
Then the total momentum is not constant
in general. But if vector sum of external
forces is zero, these forces do not
contribute to the sum, and dP/dt=0.

Conservation of Total Momentum
Principle of conservation of momentum:
If the vector sum of the external forces on a system is zero,
the total momentum of the system is constant
This principle does not depend on the detailed nature of internal
forces that act between members of the system: we can apply it
even if we know very little about the internal forces.
The principle acts only in internal frame of reference (because we
used N2L to derive it!)
CAUTION Vector sum !
Conservation of Total Momentum
Problem-Solving Strategy

IDENTIFY the relevant concepts:
Before applying conservation of momentum to a problem,
you must first decide whether momentum is conserved!
This will be true only if the vector sum of the external forces
acting on the system of particles is zero.
If this is not the case, you cant use conservation of
momentum.
Conservation of Total Momentum
Problem-Solving Strategy

SET UP the problem using the following steps:
1. Define a coordinate system. Make a sketch showing the coordinate
axes, including the positive direction for each. Make sure you are
using an inertial frame of reference. Most of the problems in this
course deal with two-dimensional situations, in which the vectors
have only x- and y-components; all of the following statements can
be generalized to include z-components when necessary.
2. Treat each body as a particle. Draw before and after sketches,
and include vectors on each to represent all known velocities. Label
the vectors with magnitudes, angles, components, or whatever
information is given, and give each unknown magnitude, angle, or
component an algebraic symbol. You may use the subscripts 1 and 2
for velocities before and after interaction, respectively.
3. As always, identify the target variable(s) from among the unknowns.
Conservation of Total Momentum
Problem-Solving Strategy

EXECUTE the solution as follows:
1. Write equation in terms of symbols equating the total initial x-component
of momentum (before the interaction) to the total final x-component of
momentum (after), using p
x
=mv
x
for each particle.
2. Write another equation for y-components, using p
y
=mv
y
for each particle.
Remember that the x- and y-components of velocity or momentum are never
added together in the same equation!
Even when all the velocities lie along a line (such as the x-axis), components of
velocity along this line can be positive or negative; be careful with signs!
3. Solve these equations to determine whatever results are required. In
some problems you will have to convert from the x- and y-components of
a velocity to its magnitude and direction, or the reverse.
4. In some problems, energy considerations give additional relationships
among the various velocities.
Conservation of Total Momentum
Problem-Solving Strategy


EVALUATE your answer:
Does your answer make physical sense?
If your target variable is a certain bodys momentum,
check that the direction of the momentum is reasonable.
Conservation of Total Momentum
What Momentum cannot
do
A collision
Before
V=30 MPH V=0
m/s kg 21,292 =
m/s) (13.4 kg) (1,589 =
MPH) (30 lbs) (3500 = P
0 = m/s) (0 kg) (681 =
MPH) (0 lbs) (1500 = P
i Truck,
i Car,

m/s kg 21,292 =
P + P P
i Blazer, i civic, i Total,

=
f Blazer,
f civic, f Total,
P +
P = P
How do we determine the velocities?
After
V
T
V
c

What Momentum cannot do
CONSTANT P + P = P
f Blazer, f civic, f Total,
=
f Truck, Total f car,
P - P = P
There are many
possibilities
Conservation of
Momentum cant
tell them apart
Momentum Conservation in
Explosions
P
i
=0
P
f
=m
g
v
g
+m
b
v
b

gun bullet
P
i
=P
f
v
g
= -v
b

m
b
m
g
Note: v
b
and v
g
are
in opposite directions
Continuous Momentum Transfer
A gun shooting a bullet is a
discrete process
We can generalize this to
continuous processes
Rockets operate by shooting out
a continuos stream of gas
Note: Rocket propulsion was
originally thought to be impossible
Nothing to push against !!!
Rockets
= Mv P
i
ex
ex
ex
Fuel Rocket F
mv v M Mv
v m mv mv v M mv Mv -
v-v m v v+ m M-
+ P = P P
A A + ~
~ A A A A + A + A
= A A A
=
=
) ( + ) )( ( =
ex
mv v = M A A
Rockets
ex
mv v = M A
dM
M
v
dv = -
ex

f
i
f
i
M
M
ex
v
v
M
dM
= -v dv
|
|
.
|

\
|
f
i
ex i f
M
M
+ v = v v ln
dm Mdv =v
ex
0 Am
Collisions
Collisions
Collision is any strong interaction between bodies that lasts a
relatively short time
Cars collision
Balls colliding on a pool table
Neutrons hitting nuclei in reactor core
Bowling ball striking pins
Meteor impact with Earth
If the forces between the bodies are much larger than any external
forces, we can neglect the external forces entirely and treat the
bodies as isolated system
Since a collision constitutes an isolated system (where the net
external force is zero), the momentum of the system is
conserved (the same before and after the collision)
Collision types: inelastic and elastic collisions


Inelastic Collisions
In any collision in which external forces can be neglected,
momentum is conserved and the total momentum before equals
the total momentum after
Collisions are classified according to how much energy is "lost"
during the collision
Inelastic Collisions - there is a loss of kinetic energy due to the
collision
Automobile collision is inelastic: the structure of the car absorbs as
much of the energy of collision as possible. This absorbed energy
cannot be recovered, since it goes into a permanent deformation of
the car
Completely Inelastic Collisions - the loss of kinetic energy is the
maximum possible. The objects stick together after the collision.
Elastic collisions - the kinetic energy of the system is conserved


Elastic Collision
Elastic collision:
Glider A and glider B approach
each other on a frictionless
surface
Each glider has a steel spring
bumper on the end to ensure an
elastic collision



Elastic Collision
Elastic 1-D collision of two bodies A and B, B is at rest before collision

Momentum of the system is conserved
Kinetic energy of the system is conserved

x B B x A A B x A A
v m v m m v m
2 2 1
) 0 ( + = +
2
2
2
2
2 2
1
2
1
2
1
) 0 (
2
1
2
1
x B B x A A B x A A
v m v m m v m + = +
) )( ( ) (
2 1 2 1
2
2
2
1
2
2 x A x A x A x A A x A x A A x B B
v v v v m v v m v m + = =
) (
2 1 2 x A x A A x B B
v v m v m =
Divide equations
x A x A x B
v v v
2 1 2
+ =
) ( ) (
2 1 2 1 x A x A A x A x A B
v v m v v m =
x A
B A
B A
x A
v
m m
m m
v
1 2
+

=
x A
B A
A
x B
v
m m
m
v
1 2
2
+
=
Elastic Collision
x A
B A
B A
x A
v
m m
m m
v
1 2
+

=
Interpretation of results

Suppose body A is a ping-pong ball, and body B is bowling ball
We expect A to bounce of after the collision with almost the same
speed but opposite direction, and speed of B will be much smaller
What if situation is reversed? Bowling ball hits ping-pong ball?


x A
B A
A
x B
v
m m
m
v
1 2
2
+
=
Elastic Collision
x A
B A
B A
x A
v
m m
m m
v
1 2
+

=
Interpretation of results

Suppose masses of bodies A and B are equal
Then m
A
=m
B
, and V
A2x
=0, V
B2x
=V
A1x



x A
B A
A
x B
v
m m
m
v
1 2
2
+
=
Elastic Collision
x A
B A
B A
x A
v
m m
m m
v
1 2
+

=

V
B2x
-V
A2x
is relative velocity of B to A after the collision, and it is
negative of the velocity of B relative to A before the collision
In a straight-line elastic collision of two bodies, the relative
velocities before and after collision have the same
magnitude, but opposite sign
General case (when velocity of B is not zero):


x A
B A
A
x B
v
m m
m
v
1 2
2
+
=
x A x A x B
v v v
2 1 2
+ =
x A x A x B
v v v
1 2 2
=
) (
1 1 2 2 x A x B x A x B
v v v v =
Inelastic Collision
Completely inelastic collision:
Glider A and glider B approach
each other on a frictionless
surface
Each glider has a putty on the
end, so gliders stick together
after collision


Center of Mass
Center of Mass
Atemi (Striking the Body): Strike directed at the attacker for
purposes of unbalancing or distraction.
Atemi is often vital for bypassing or short-circuiting'' an attacker's
natural responses to aikido techniques.
The first thing most people will do when they feel their body being
manipulated in an unfamiliar way is to retract their limbs and drop
their center of mass down and away from the person performing the
technique.
By judicious application of atemi, it is possible to create a window of
opportunity'' in the attacker's natural defenses, facilitating the
application of an aikido technique.


From Aikido terms
Center of Mass
Consider several particles with masses m
1
, m
2
and so on.

(x
1
, y
1
) are coordinates of m
1
, (x
2
, y
2
) are coordinates of m
2


Center of mass of the system is the point having the coordinates
(x
cm
, y
cm
) given by

=
+ + +
+ + +
=
i
i
i
i i
cm
m
x m
m m m
x m x m x m
x
...
...
3 2 1
3 3 2 2 1 1

=
+ + +
+ + +
=
i
i
i
i i
cm
m
y m
m m m
y m y m y m
y
...
...
3 2 1
3 3 2 2 1 1
Center of Mass
The center of mass of a system of N particles with masses m
1
, m
2
,
m
3
, etc. and positions, (x
1
, y
1
, z
1
), (x
2
, y
2
, z
2
), (x
3
, y
3
, z
3
), etc. is
defined in terms of the particle's position vectors using

=
+ + +
+ + +
=
i
i
i
i i
cm
m
r m
m m m
r m r m r m
r

...
...
3 2 1
3 3 2 2 1 1
Center of mass is a mass-weighted average position of particles
If this expression is differentiated with respect to time then the position
vectors become velocity vectors and we have

=
+ + +
+ + +
=
i
i
i
i i
cm
m
v m
m m m
v m v m v m
v

...
...
3 2 1
3 3 2 2 1 1
Center of Mass
Total moment is equal to total mass
times velocity of the center of mass
For a system of particles on which the net
external force is zero, so that the total
momentum is constant, the velocity of the
center of mass is also constant

=
+ + +
+ + +
=
i
i
i
i i
cm
m
v m
m m m
v m v m v m
v

...
...
3 2 1
3 3 2 2 1 1
P v m v m v m v M
cm

= + + + = ...
3 3 2 2 1 1
...
3 2 1
+ + + = m m m M
Total mass
Total moment of the system
Spinning throwing knife on ice:
center of mass follows straight line
External Forces and Center-of-Mass
Motion
If we differentiate once again, then the derivatives of the velocity terms
will be accelerations
Further, if we use Netwon's Second Law for each particle then the terms
of the form m
i
a
i
will be the net force on particle i.
When these are summed over all particles any forces that are internal
to the system (i.e. a force on particle i caused by particle j) will be
included in the sum twice and these pairs will cancel due to Newton's
Third Law. The result will be

= + + + =
ext cm
F a m a m a m a M


...
3 3 2 2 1 1
Body
or collection of particles
It states that the net external force on a system of particles equals
the total mass of the system times the acceleration of the center
of mass (Newton's Second Law for a system of particles)
It can also be expressed as the net external force on a system equals
the time rate of change of the total linear momentum of the system.

Center of Mass ?
Center of Mass ?
The segmental method involves computation of the segmental CMs
The whole body CM is computed based on the segmental CMs